Five defenders of the Salvadorian environment who have been acquitted of the fake civil war charges this week will face the increasing evidence of political intervention.
Miguel Angel Games, Alejandro Lines Garcia, Pedro Antonio Rivas Laniz, Antonio Pacico and Sayl Agustin Rivas Ortega, they were acquitted in October due to the killing of an army laboratory in 1989. Salvador It ruled that the state had failed to prove the existence of a crime, or that the defendants, and former guerrilla warfare fighters were linked to any violations.
The defendants, who were at the forefront of a 13 -year -old campaign Block metal miningHe was He was arrested in January 2023 Amid warnings that President Nayb Bokil was planning to cancel the historic law of 2017.
Environmental leaders, who are more than 60 years old and suffer from a group of chronic medical issues, spent nearly two exhausting years in fighting charges, including nine months in which he was resulted in crowded prisons.
But their celebrations were short -term. The Public Prosecutor, a close political ally of the agent, appealed to the ruling in early December, and the men face a re -trial on the same charges of killing and illegal association.
The state cannot provide new evidence or witnesses in the re -trial, which opens on Monday, February 3. But in an extraordinary step, the judges of the Court of Appeal for the New trial – and any future appeal – ordered a different jurisdiction, where the court judge was appointed during the first agent of the State of the Agent.
In late December, the mining embargo by the five men who carried out a campaign after 57 allies of the agent of the 60 -seat Legislative Council voted in favor of the president’s legislation. This step came as new reconnaissance students before Central American University (UCA) I found that nearly two -thirds of (61 %) of Salvadorians oppose return to mining.
Last week, hundreds of leading organizations in the field of human rights, environment, faith, academics, and lawyers issued letter Bukele’s call to drop the “political motivation charges” against the five environmental leaders, and to prohibit mining.
“We have always suspected that the prosecution of environmental leaders in Santa Marta was a political drive – and that he would abort the justice. Pedro Kabaysas, Central coalition coordinator against our complaints, said:“ The success of the government in canceling the innocent rule and canceling the mining ban indicates that our doubts were. Correct. Mining.
The mining ban has passed Unanimously by legislators in March 2017 Amid an escalating anxiety about the densely populated water resources.
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Bukele’s mining interest is part of a wider effort to enhance and secure international industries that include Bitcoin, tourism and fossil fuel Critics warn of the risks that increase forced displacement, social conflict, economic inequality, and land and water shortage.
Since he was sweeping to power in 2019, an agent and his allies have adopted an authoritarian campaign against gangs, human rights organizations and political opponents, as well as steps for “democratic institutions effectively”, to replace independent judges, public prosecutors and political officials, According to Human Rights Watch.
“This seems to be a state of revenge for human rights activity. Given the new context, with the government’s reopening of the country to mining, the trial is more important. I hope the court will send a message Strong, and supports the right to defend rights, which will be vital in the coming months in El Salvador.
The five activists of more than 70,000 people have been detained since Bokley announced the state of emergency and the suspension of basic rights after an increase in gang violence in March 2022.
“Imprisoning science and vocal opposition to a wide range of society and civilian civil societies is unreasonable and unreasonable and endangers people’s lives,” said Karen Weissbert of the Joint Border Group, an international solidarity group based in Canada. “The new mining law in El Salvador is a big step in the country’s efforts to determine the priorities of environmental protection. “
