In January 2023, five environmental activists known as the “Santa Marta Five” were arrested in El Salvador for leading a campaign to ban harmful mining practices. On October 18th 2024, they were found innocent during their trial in San Salvador, highlighting the crackdown on civil society under President Nayib Bukele, who may have sought to revive metal mining to address economic issues stemming from his Bitcoin policy.
From October 15th to 20th 2023, a U.S.-Canadian delegation, including Scott Wright from Pax Christi USA, visited El Salvador and met with civil society and human rights leaders. Their findings, documented in the report “State of Deception: Human Rights Under Bukele”, published in January 2024 and sponsored by PCI, reveal widespread fear and corruption under Bukele’s authoritarian regime, illustrating a pattern of human rights violations, including the arbitrary arrests of the Santa Marta Five.
The report indicates that over 70,000 people are incarcerated under poor conditions, including many innocent individuals. Bukele aims to violate a 2017 ban on mining, threatening the country’s water supply and disregarding public sentiment. His administration has undermined judicial independence and basic human rights while diverting funds to expand military power. International representatives have largely ignored these violations while continuing financial support for Bukele’s government.
To address these issues, the report recommended the Salvadoran government to drop charges against the Santa Marta Five, end the state of emergency, restore suspended rights, uphold judicial independence, and maintain the mining ban. And to the U.S. and Canadian governments to advocate for these changes, to attend the upcoming trials of the Santa Marta Five, and to vote against Bukele’s request for a $1.3 billion IMF loan. Additionally, Countries involved in the 1992 Peace Agreement should reaffirm their commitment to supporting human rights in El Salvador.
The exoneration of the Santa Marta Five serves as a beacon of hope for grassroots communities in Central and Latin America, showcasing the power of organised, nonviolent resistance against destructive extractive practices. This victory reinforces the findings and recommendations of the January 2024 report.
