Could El Salvador’s Historic Ban
on Mining be Reversed?
Submitted by Ron Leonhardt
Source: El Salvador Perspectives (elsalvadorperspectives.com)
In 2017 El Salvador became the first country to ban metallic mining. But anti-mining advocates are concerned that President Nayib Bukele’s national government is preparing to reverse that ban. The purpose of the ban was to protect the country’s natural resources, especially water which is so essential to life. The most important rivers are drying up, strategic aquifers are running low and more than 90% of surface waters are seriously contaminated. Now mining companies in the United States are trying to get a foothold in El Salvador, which needs income because of failed economic policies, including approving bitcoin as legal tender. Opponents to mining have been detained under the country’s strict State of Exception which limits personal civil rights as a means to weaken resistance to mining. Bukele’s party controls the national legislature, and a simple vote could reverse the ban at any time. Opponents of mining are seeking a constitutional amendment to incorporate the ban into the county’s charter.