OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK IN DEFENSE OF EL SALVADOR
- Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President
- World Bank Group
- 1818, H Street NW
- Washington, DC, 20433, USA
The signers of this petition are 303 international and national civil society organizations. We are writing out of solidarity with the communities of El Salvador that have been working through the democratic process to prevent a proposed cyanide-leach gold mining project, over well- founded risks that it will poison the local communities’ environment as well as the country’s most important river and source of water.
Rather than complying with the environmental permitting process of El Salvador, the Canadian company Pacific Rim launched an attack under the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). While that approach was rejected for lack of jurisdiction, Pacific Rim was still allowed to continue the arbitration based on an outdated investment law that has since been amended by the Salvadoran General Assembly. On that basis, the case remains before the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Pacific Rim is demanding $301 million US dollars in compensation from the government of El Salvador or to provide it with an operating permit in spite of the huge risks to the country’s water supply.
Pacific Rim is using ICSID to subvert a democratic nationwide debate over mining and environmental health in El Salvador. When it comes to such issues, local democratic institutions should prevail, not foreign corporations seeking to exploit natural resources.
These matters should not be decided by the World Banks’ investor state arbitration tribunal or any other foreign tribunal. To make things worse, in the course of Pacific Rim’s intervention in the political affairs of El Salvador, four anti-mining activists have been murdered in the project area.
We urge you to review the role of the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and to determine if it supports the Bank’s mission of ending poverty and promoting responsible and sustainable economic development.
We urge you to undertake this review through an open process with public hearings and the ability for mining affected communities and their allies to present evidence of the harm done by corporations using the investor - state arbitration process to undermine the public interest laws and regulatory structures in countries of the Global South.
We stand with the people of El Salvador in their demand that their domestic governance processes and national sovereignty be respected. The Pacific Rim ICSID arbitration is a direct assault against democratic governance. We stand on the side of democracy.
Sincerely,
INTERNATIONAL
- ITUC - International Trade Union Confederation
- OXFAM (International)
AUSTRALIA
- Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
- Catholic Religious Australia
- Central American Pastoral House
- Communist Party of Australia WA Branch
- Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in NSW
- Conservation Council of Western Australia
- Foro Social Latinoamericano Sydney
- Jesuit Social Services
- Jubilee Australia
- MADGE Australia Inc
- Maritime Union of Australia
- Maritime Union of Australia-Victorian Branch
- National Tertiary Education Union
- Oxfam Australia
- Salvadoran Club
- SEARCH Foundation
- Sisters of Charity
- SJ Around the Bay
- Socialist Alliance (Australia)
- The Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network
- The International Grail Justice and Trade Agreements Network
- Victorian Trades Hall Council
CANADA
- Americas Policy Group
- Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network
- BTS-Breaking the Silence
- Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
- Canadians for Mining Awareness Peterborough
- CAMES – Canadians Against Mining in El Salvador
- Caring Rehab Ltd
- CDHAL-Comité pour les droits humains en Amérique latine
- CEBES-Martires de El Salvador
- CODESES-Comité para El Desarrollo de El Salvador
- Common Frontiers
- Consejo Científico de Salvadoreños en el Mundo
- Crescent United Church
- Cuba Edmonton Solidarity Committee
- CUPE - Canadian Union of Public Employees
- CUPE 3903
- CUPE Ontario
- CUPW-Canadian Union of Postal Workers
- El Pulgarcito de América Folklore Dance Group
- Foundation Oscar A Romero Canada
- FutureWatch EDEP
- Global Exchange
- Greater Victoria Seniors Association
- Humbercrest United Church
- IFPOR- International Festival of Poetry of Resistance
- Jesuit refugee and migrant service
- KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
- Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network
- Latin-American Collective/Cafe Rebelde
- LatinoSoy Radio Program 96.1FM
- Mapuche Nation support Committee, Edmonton
- Memoria Viva Society of Edmonton
- Mining Injustice Solidarity Network
- Mining Justice Action Committee
- Mining Justice Action Committee (BC)
- Mining Justice Alliance
- Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA)
- NJT Edmonton
- OCHU-Ontario Council of Hospital Unions
- Peoples' Health Movement, Canada
- Plumbers & Pipefitters, Local Union 488
- Polaris Institute
- PUCHKA Peru
- Quisetal - Coalition québécoise sur les impacts socio-environnementaux des transnationales en Amérique latine
- RightOnCanada
- Rights Action
- RRSE, Regroupement pour la responsabilité sociale des entreprises
- SALVAIDE
- Salvadorean Canadian Association
- Servicios Internacionales Cristianos de Solidaridad con America Latina Oscar Romero
- SMAK (Sustainable Mining Alliance of the Kootenay's)
- Social Justice Committee of Montreal
- Solidarity Notes Labour Choir
- SOS EL SALVADOR
- St. Barnabas Anglican Church
- Taddle Creek Connection
- The United Church of Canada
- Torbela
- Toronto Haiti Action Committee
- Toronto, Women for a Just and Healthy Planet
- UBC Social Justice Centre
- USW-United Steelworkers
- VIVAECO
- Wirikuta Vancouver Alliance
EL SALVADOR
- ALSACOOP - Alternativa Salvadoreña de Cooperativas
- ASAFOCAIS
- Asociación Ambiental la Maraña
- Asociación Madre Cria El Salvador
- Asociación de estudiantes de Trabajo Social (AETSUES)
- ADISPA - Asociación de Desarrollo Indígena Salvadoreña de los Pueblos Ancestrales
- CRIPDES - Asociación para el Desarrollo de El Salvador
- CRIPDES - CCR
- ADES -Asociación de Desarrollo Económico Social Santa Marta
- Asociación Catalana d'Enginyeria sense Fronteres
- CEICOM-Centro de Investigaciones de Comercio
- CESTA/FOE El Salvador
- COFOA -Comunidades de Fe Organizadas para la Acción
- Colectivo de Estudio de Pensamiento Crítico
- CONAMAS
- Consejo Coordinador Nacional Indígena Salvadoreño
- CONSALCOOP Confederación Salvadoreña de Cooperativas-El Salvador
- Consejo Feminista
- CORDES- Comité Para el Desarrollo Rural de El Salvador
- CRISPAZ
- FER
- Fundación Cristosal
- FESPAD -Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho
- Fundación REDES
- Fundación Río Lempa
- Fundademis
- Instituto Católico San Francisco de Asís
- Juxvida
- Justicia, Paz e Integridad de la Creación.
- Conferencia de Religiosas y Religiosos de El Salvador
- JPIC-OFM de El Salvador
- Mesa Nacional frente a la Minería Metálica
- Movimiento Social Estamos con voz
- Movimiento Salvadoreño de Mujeres
- MUFRAS 32 -Movimiento Unificado Francisco Sánchez
- Patria Exacta
- Plataforma Social del Pueblo Cuscatlán
- Red Activista – El Salvador
- Red de Ambientalistas Comunitarios de El Salvador
- UNES - Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña
LATIN AMERICA
- ACPH Honduras(HN)
- Alianza Mexicana por la Autodeterminación de los Pueblos (MX)
- AMERG-Asociación de Maestros de Educación Rural de Guatemala(GT)
- Amigos de la Naturaleza en el Mundo, A.C.(MX)
- ARCA(CR)
- Asamblea Popular por el Agua(AR)
- Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad(CR)
- Asociación Regional Centroamericana para el Agua y el Ambiente(CR)
- Bios Iguana A.C.(MX)
- Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral(MX)
- Centro Humboldt(NI)
- CIP Americas Program(MX)
- Coalición de Organizaciones Mexicanas por el Derecho al Agua
- CTC_VZLA -Coalición de Tendencia Clasista (VN)
- Coalición Nacional de Redes Ambientales de Honduras(HN)
- Colectivo Casa(BO)
- Comité Ambiental Valle de Siria(HN)
- COMSA(MX)
- COPINH -Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras(HN)
- Consejo del Pueblo Huista-Wuxtaj(GT)
- CooperAcción(PE)
- Crónicas del Despojo(CO)
- CSMM -Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos Segundo Montes Mozo S.J.(EC)
- Democracia y Territorio(MX)
- Democracy Center(BL)
- Departamento JPIC Obispado de Copiapo(EC)
- Diálogo 2000 - Jubileo Sur Argentina(AR)
- FANCA(CR)
- FIAN México(MX)
- Grito de los Excluidos Continental(BR)
- Instituto de Derecho Ambiental de Honduras(HN)
- Instituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario(MX)
- JPIC Nicaragua(NI)
- Justicia para la Naturaleza(CR)
- Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Solidarity Network(GT)
- Misioneras Cordi-Marianas(MX)
- Misioneros Claretianos(Colombia)
- Misioneros Claretianos(Honduras)
- MNIGR(HN)
- MACEM-Movimiento Ambiental Contra las Exploraciones y Concesiones Mineras(NI)
- Movimiento Mesoamericano contra el Modelo extractivo Minero(MX)
- Movimiento Social Nicaragüense "Otro Mundo es Posible"
- Network for Justice in Global Investment(BL)
- OLCA Observatorio Latinoamericano de Conflictos Ambientales
- Otros Mundos AC/Amigos de la Tierra México(MX)
- Otros Mundos Colombia(CL)
- PETARE INSURGENTE(VN)
- PIAP(MX)
- PIDHDD - Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo(EC)
- Red de Coordinación en Biodiversidad(CR)
- Red Ecológica, Social y Agropecuaria de Veraguas(PA)
- RMALC - Red Mexicana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio(MX)
- REMA- Red Mexicana de Afectados por la Minería (MX)
- REDES-Amigos de la Tierra (FoE) Uruguay(UR)
- S.O.S. HUASCO(CL)
- Sector de Trabajadores Adherentes a la Sexta(MX)
- Sister Parish Center(GT)
- Unión Campesina Panameña(PA)
- Unión Latinoamericana de Mujeres(PR)
- Universidad de la Tierra en Puebla(MX)
UNITED STATES
- AFL-CIO
- American Association of Jurists
- American Jewish World Service
- Amnesty International Las Cruces NM
- Arlington-Teosinte Sister City Project
- Asociación Q'anil
- Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
- Austin-Guajoyo Sister City Project
- Boulder Chapter Global Solutions
- Cambridge United for Justice with Peace
- Cambridge-Las Flores Sister City Project
- Center for Alternative Mining Development Policy
- Centro Latino Cuzcatlan
- Chicago-Cinquera Sister Cities
- CIEL - Center for International Environmental Law
- CISPES-Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
- Citizens Trade Campaign
- Climate Crisis Coalition of the Twin Cities, Minnesota
- Colombia Support Network
- Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
- Conference of Major Superiors of Men
- CRISPAZ - Christians for Peace in El Salvador
- Cultural Survival
- Decorah (IA) United Methodist Sister Parish
- Denver Justice & Peace Committee
- Doctors for Global Health
- Earthworks
- Family Farm Defenders
- FOCUS Central America/Wichita
- Food & Water Watch
- Foundation Cristosal
- Franciscan Action Network
- Friends of the Earth US
- Global Connections. Washington Ethical Society
- Grassroots International
- Grupo Cajola
- Guatemala Human Rights Commission
- Immanuel Baptist Church, Rochester, NY
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
- International League for Peace and Freedom
- International Labor Rights Forum
- InterReligious Task Force on Central America
- Institute for Policy Studies - Global Economy Project
- Jóvenes en Acción Política
- JPIC Claretianos América
- JPIC Office, Franciscan Friars, Holy Name Province, New York, NY
- Latin America Task Force, Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice
- Latin America Working Group
- Liberating Red Earth
- Life Weavings, LLC
- Madison Arcatao Sister City Project
- MAPC
- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Medical Mission Sisters Alliance for Justice
- Midwest Coalition against Lethal Mining
- Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment
- Midwest Environmental Advocates
- Mingas-NY
- MOFGA/El Salvador Sistering Committee
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Lawyers Guild
- Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility of United Church of Christ
- Office of the Americas
- OXFAM America
- Palm Springs Presbyterian Church
- Paulist Center of Boston Staff and Pastoral Council
- Pilgrim Prayer & Healing Ministries
- Power in Community Alliances(PICA)
- Presbyterian Mission Agency
- Public Citizen
- SANIPLAN
- SHARE El Salvador
- SHARE Foundation
- Sierra Club
- Sister Parish of First United Methodist Church, Decorah IA
- Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Institute Justice Team
- St. Camillus Catholic Church
- St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Central America
- St. Paul's Cathedral, Burlington, VT
- Texas Fair Trade Coalition
- The Midwest Coalition Against Lethal Mining
- U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities
- United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE)
- Washington Ethical Society/GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
- WOLA – Washington Office on Latin America
- Watertown-El Salvador Sister City Committee
- Wildflower Unitarian Universalist Church Climate Action Team
- Witness for Peace
- Witness for Peace Northwest
OTROS PAISES
- ABC’éditions(France)
- Bretton Woods Project(England)
- Carbon Verde Solutions(Spain)
- CNCD-11.11.11(Belgium)
- Colectivo El Salvador Elkartasuna(Spain)
- Comité Solidaridad San Atanasio-Madrid(Spain)
- CRI-Christian Romero Initiative(Germany)
- Environmental Network for Central America(England)
- GMB Trade Union(England)
- IGLA -Information Group on Latin America (Austria)
- International Association of Health Policy in Europe(Greece)
- Jubilee Debt Campaign(England)
- Kaffeekampagne El Salvador(Denmark)
- KRUHA Indonesia(Indonesia)
- Latin American Mining Monitoring Programme(England)
- Misioneras de la Institución Claretiana(Spain)
- ONG AFRICANDO(Senegal)
- Plataforma de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Guatemala de Madrid(Spain)
- Plataforma Salvemos Cabana (Galicia, Spain)
- Re:Common(Italy)
- Socialist Party of Switzerland(Switzerland)
- Stichting Bakens Verzet (NGO Another Way)(Netherlands)
- TEA-KOR(Korea)
- Transnational Institute(Netherlands)
- Urgewald(Denmark)
- XminY(Netherlands)
For information contac: John Cavanagh, Institute for Policy Studies, johnc@ips-dc.org, tel: 202 234-9382
CC
Meg Kinnear, Secretary-General,ICSID
V.V. Veeder, Tribunal President
Brigitte Stern, Tribunal Member
Guido Santiago Tawil, Tribunal Member