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Please join us as we demand  that El Salvador drop charges against anti-mining activists

On Wednesday, April 3, almost 15 months after their arrest, the case against El Salvador’s historic anti-mining activists and water defenders goes to trial and we need your support!

The #SantaMarta5 were arrested on January 11, 2023, accused without evidence of a civil war era crime. Months before their arrest, the community leaders denounced the current governments’ plans to bring mining back to Salvador. After several appeals from the international community, the activists were released under house arrest following 7 months of violations of their right to due process. Despite the lack of evidence or legal basis for the charges against them (the charges violate the National Reconciliation Act of 1992), the attorney general has not dropped the charges against them, and the case goes to court this Wednesday, April 3rd. This context raises significant questions on whether the water defenders will have access to a fair and impartial trial. (For more context read the report “State of Deception” here)

How can you help? Tell the Salvadoran government to Drop the Charges!

TAKE ACTION between April 3rd and 5th following these 3 easy steps:

1. Write a message to the Attorney General asking for the chages to be dropped.
2. On a sheet of paper or poster board, write a short statement of solidarity like: Drop the charges against the Santa Marta 5!
   1. International solidarity is with the Santa Marta 5!
   2. The diaspora is watching! Free the anti-miners of all charges!
   3. Keep El Salvador metallic mining-free!
3. Take a picture OR make a short video clip (no more than than 30 seconds) with your sign
4. Post your mesage, pic/video on your social media! Include the hashtags:

#SantaMarta5 #SantaMartaNoEstáSola #DropTheChargesSM5 #DiásporaConSantaMarta5 and tag the Salvadoran Attorney General: @FGR_SV, and tag Salvadorean organizations supporting the Santa Marta 5: @ades_sm @no_mineria_sv @somosagua @acafremin @CSantaMarta1987

Statement by Nine Prominent International Organizations Calling on Salvadoran Attorney General to Drop All Charges against Five Water Defenders

Washington, D.C. – In the wake of the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Bishop Óscar Romero in El Salvador, nine international organizations, including the Central American Alliance on Mining (ACAFREMIN), the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), MiningWatch Canada, Pax Christi International, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the SHARE Foundation, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, the United Church of Canada, and the Washington Ethical Society, issued a statement to call attention to the upcoming trial on April 3 against five prominent water defenders and community leaders from Santa Marta, El Salvador, who are currently facing politically motivated charges.

The nine organizations call upon the Salvadoran Attorney General to drop all charges against the five prominent water defenders and community leaders in northern El Salvador arrested on January 11, 2023: Miguel Ángel Gámez, Alejandro Laínez García, Pedro Antonio Rivas Laínez, Antonio Pacheco, and Saúl Agustín Rivas Ortega. The case has gained international scrutiny amid allegations that the charges are politically motivated.

These individuals were among leaders of the historic and successful campaign that convinced the Salvadoran legislature to unanimously pass in 2017 a law that prohibits metals mining, to save the nation’s rivers.”In the spirit of Saint Óscar Romero, these community leaders have embodied the legacy of the preferential option for the poor in their fight for justice and for the well-being of their communities,” said John Cavanagh, Senior Advisor at the Institute for Policy Studies. “Now, we’re calling for justice for the Santa Marta Five as they face politically motivated charges and attempts to silence their movement.”  READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE