1 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: Videlino Morales is in her fifties. She's soft spoken and welcoming. 2 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: She is the last person you'd expect would need to 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: say the words we are not terrorists. Bavidelina is a 4 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: president of the Association Royo Economical Associate or adis a 5 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: community based organization in Salor that carries out educational, environmental 6 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: and cultural projects. The group became nationally famous for sunning 7 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: the alarm over mining projects that threatened reverse. In twenty seventeen, 8 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: the years of organizing helped secure a huge win. The 9 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: government of Asaur became the first country in the world 10 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: to ban mining. Today, Naibukeli, a man who likes to 11 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: call himself the coolest dictator in the world, wants to 12 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: reverse that ban, but first he needs to discredit the 13 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: activists who fought for it, and he's gone about it 14 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: in a strange way, accusing five leaders an adis of 15 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: a decade's old murder. Over the past year, Videlina has 16 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: been fighting on their behalf, touring radio stations and TV 17 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: channels to explain that these accusations are part of a 18 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: smear campaign meant to weaken the environmental movement. 19 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: A stay. 20 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 3: Organization all along We have fought this fight as communities, 21 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 3: as organizations that believe in our efforts, that believe in 22 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: the innocence of our comrades, and that know that first 23 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 3: of all God and then this Salvadoran justice system will 24 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 3: set them free. Because this case is manufactured. You can 25 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: see it is a case with so many irregularities. 26 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: The charges go back to ol Salvador's bloody civil war, 27 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: when violence toured through the country and experienced. Videlina remembers well. 28 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: She was born and raised on the border between Hoduras 29 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: and Salor. In nineteen eighty, war broke out in between 30 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: the US back to military dictatorship and the Frente Ferround 31 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: Marti Praira the fm elen, a Marxist gorilla group. To 32 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: crush the insurgency, the army launched a terror campaign in 33 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: the north of the country where the guerrilla forces had 34 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: their camps. Civilians were considered gorilla collaborators and became targets 35 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: for the army and paramilitary groups. A series of massacres 36 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: occurred in the Caabayas region, killing hundreds of unarmed men, 37 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: women and children. Several thousand survivors crossed the Lampa River 38 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: and took refuge in Honduras yegarum Los. 39 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 3: I witnessed refugees arriving at Los Hernandez naked because they 40 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 3: were fleeing. 41 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: With Allina was fourteen when she saw the refugees crossing 42 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 1: the river Cerca and ferente la casa mi padres installarum 43 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: campamento parasanar. 44 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 3: Near my parents' house. They set up a camp to 45 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 3: treat the wounded. So I also saw how many people 46 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 3: arrived wounded. Some had gotten lost in the mountains because 47 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 3: from the Rio Olympa to Los Rnandez it's not an 48 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 3: hour's walk, and people got lost. The Anduran army also 49 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 3: participated in the massacre. The Limpa River massacre was supported 50 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 3: by both the Duran and Salvadoran armies. 51 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: As part of a local Catholic group, she helped assist 52 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: the refugees as they settled in a camp called. 53 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 3: One of the things I did was run errands. They 54 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 3: would send us to the town to buy food, bread, 55 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 3: any kind of food we could get for the people there, 56 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 3: and I helped. 57 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: That's how she got in contact with one of the 58 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: insurgency groups that had a strong presence in the camp. 59 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: This is how my awareness began to grow. During those 60 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: years eighty one to eighty eight, I went from being 61 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 3: a young girl to my life taking a turn. Got 62 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 3: together with the father of my children. He was a 63 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: friend and he was part of the Gorilla Army. I 64 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 3: was eighteen when I got together with. 65 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 4: In a c. 66 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: In nineteen eighty seven, groups of refugees started moving back 67 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: to as. Many of them resettled in Santa Marta, one 68 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: of the communities that had abandoned when they fled to Honduras. 69 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: Although the military scorched earth campaigns were mostly over by then, 70 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: the war was still raging and the refugees still feared 71 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: the army's operations. It made people paranoid about infiltrators and spies. 72 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: That's when a murder took place in Santa Marta. The 73 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: rumor spread that a woman named Maria inz Obarenga was 74 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: an army informant. One night, goerrilla fighters dragged her out 75 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: of her house in front of her children and took 76 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: her to an unknown place where she was shot and buried. 77 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 1: Her body was never found. Three decades later, that murder 78 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: would be used by prosecutors to target anti mining activists 79 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: and the organization Videlia represents. As land defenders around the 80 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: world know very well, an unsolved criminal case can easily 81 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: become a tool for repressive government to attack its opponents 82 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: and destroy their reputations. When the state watched a crusher movement, 83 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: it can make any accusation stick. That's our story today. 84 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: After this quick break, Ami Senia Funez and this is 85 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: drilled with Elna wasn't in Santa Marta when Maria Averrenga 86 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: was murdered. She didn't move there until nineteen ninety six, 87 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: but she still lives there today. Santa Marta is in 88 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: the northern department of Gavagnas, about four hours from the 89 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: capital Sanslo. It's a town made of scattered houses in 90 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: a deep valley along dirt roads that cars can barely 91 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: get down in the raining season. At the center of 92 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: the community, there's a small church, a soccer field, a 93 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: basketball court, and a tiny pizza joint. On the hills 94 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: surrounding Santa Marta, small farmers grow corn, beans, cassava, and vegetables, 95 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: and the community keeps a conservation area covered by a 96 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: thick forest. During her first years there, Viderino was a 97 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: stay at home mom, taking care of her five children, 98 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: but as they grew older, she got restless. She felt 99 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: she wasn't doing anything for her community. That's when she 100 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: got in contact with Antonio Pacheco, also known as Chico, 101 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: the director of ADDIS. 102 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 4: Siko Yoaki San, I. 103 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 3: Feel like I'm doing nothing here. Is there a possibility 104 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 3: you didn't involve me in any action? 105 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: Antonio Pacheco had been an area commander of the Gorilla forces. 106 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: He wasn't from Santa Marta, but he decided to stay 107 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: there at the end of the war when the insurgents 108 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: handed over their weapons. He created ADIS because the community 109 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: was getting almost no support from the state. The organization 110 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: provide education for the children, built the town's water supply network, 111 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 1: and ran agriculture programs. It also launched a community radio 112 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: station called Radio Victoria. Over the years, Alas got larger 113 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: and started operating in other parts of the country too. 114 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: The organization moved its offices closer to Sin Sun Depeke, 115 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: the largest city in Gangs. Antonio Pacheco came to talk 116 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: to with Elina. 117 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 3: He said, there's a problem here that is really worrying me. 118 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 4: And we have to tackle that. 119 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: A Canadian company called Pacific grim was prospecting for gold 120 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: in the region. He asked her to investigate was it 121 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: true that mining was a once in a lifetime opportunity 122 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: to bring prosperity to Kwangas or was it a threat 123 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: to the water resources and the environment as some people 124 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: were saying. 125 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 3: Okay, I don't know anything about mining. 126 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: Viderina wasn't sure she had the background to address the issue, 127 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: but she started learning about mining in the early two thousands. 128 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: Are like a lot of other Central American countries, looking 129 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: to attract multi national mining companies, set new laws that 130 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: made it attractive to investors. They promised little environmental oversight, 131 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: cheap labor, and big tax breaks. Companies could pay royalties 132 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: as low as one or two percent gold, silver, and 133 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: nico companies, most of them Canadian, rushed in in two thousand. 134 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: The San Martin mines are operating on Duras and in 135 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: two thousand and five the Marlin mine opened in Guatemala. 136 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: Here's a promotional video the Canadian mining company Gold Corps 137 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: made about how great it is to mine and Guatemala. 138 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 5: Mister x tensumed territorial Meinos de luno forcino toorio nacional. 139 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 6: Vasodi Murvasa. 140 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: In Nicaraiwa. The autocratic government of Daniel Rodega became a 141 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: major asset for transnational mining companies. Even the environmentally frontly 142 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: Costa Rica was eager to dig into its mountains before 143 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: backtracking and declaring a ban on open pit mining in 144 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: twenty ten. Esalor was no exception. Pacific Grim purchased land 145 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: and drilled for samples. They decided to start their gold 146 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: operation on a thirteen square kilometers site in Sane Sidro. 147 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 1: The mayor and regional politicians were vocal supporters of the mine. 148 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: Midelina met with environmental organizations in San Salvor. She talked 149 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: with experts. She went with other community members of the 150 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: Vaya Assyria in Honduras, where Gold Corp was running a 151 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: large open pit gold mine. 152 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 4: Yes Endolo. That then don't safer. 153 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: And that's how we've been expanding since two thousand and six, 154 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 3: creating a network across communities. We went to Syria Valley 155 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 3: because of the water scarcity, noise and damaged homes there, 156 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 3: people were shocked. They raised awareness and. 157 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: Mobilized via made uper Mind. Gold mines were a major 158 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: threat to the whole region. Mining operations sucked up water 159 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: resources in a place where access to clean water was 160 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 1: already a problem. They used dangerous chemicals like cyanai to 161 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: separate the gold from the rock. If a sinide spill occurred, 162 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: it's a threatened the Lampa River, which provides sixty percent 163 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: of the water resources of Alsalvador. Mining companies, as she 164 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: would soon discover, were bad for communities too, dividing the 165 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: population and bringing in social unrest, violence and death. Opposition 166 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: started to mount against specific rim A. This and other 167 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: organizations mobilized people in cabanas. The organized forums where the 168 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: company experts were asked tough questions by local people. Santa 169 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: Marta and other communities came to Sant Salor to protest 170 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: in the mining company pushed back. 171 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 3: We would station ourselves in san at different ministries, the 172 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 3: Ministry of Environment in front of the President's house too, 173 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 3: with a lot of fear because if they caught us, 174 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 3: they would arrest us and throw us in prison. 175 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: A major tool of the resistance against mining companies was 176 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: Radio Victoria, Santa MARTA's community radio station. Its mix of music, 177 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: news and commentary, and it's a large network of local 178 00:11:33,040 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: correspondence gave the radio station a large audience across going yes. 179 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 7: Depart, I mean oh yes. 180 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: Rodya Victoria was one of Alis's main projects at the 181 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: end of the war. 182 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 2: That was nineteen ninety three when we first went on 183 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: the air and when we moved up to Victoria. 184 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 1: This is Christina Starr. She's from Charlotte, North Carolina. Her 185 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: real name is Wendy Wallace, but everyone in Santa Marta 186 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: knows her as Christina, a name she has used since 187 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: the war. In nineteen eighty eight, she came to a 188 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: sab to work at a trade union federation in Santaelo. 189 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: The war was raging, and a year later, a death 190 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: squad detonated a bomb in the offices where she worked. 191 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: The attack killed ten unionists and wounded forty others. Christina 192 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: was lucky she had left the cafeteria where the bomb 193 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: exploded minutes earlier. Shortly after that experience, she joined the 194 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: insurgency and became part of a propaganda unit, filming some 195 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: of the gorilla's actions. In nineteen ninety one, she settled 196 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: in Santa Marta, and at the end of the war 197 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: she decided to stay. Because of her communications background. Others 198 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: asked her to help create Drodia Victoria. 199 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 2: Mostly my role has been to look for support for the. 200 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 3: Projects that we have. 201 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: I was never at the radio full time, but as 202 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 2: part of the coordinating team, so we had a collective 203 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 2: that ran the radio and basically accompanying. You know, I 204 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 2: never wanted to be two hands on because I didn't 205 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 2: want to be the green that runs the radio. 206 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: From the beginning, Rodia Victoria became the voice of the 207 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: anti mining front. Rodia Victoria explained the dangers of mining 208 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: to his listeners by pointing to the environmental and social 209 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: costs of the industry. It disrupted Pacific Rome's communication campaign. 210 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 5: It's that condition de terminian he induststructivatales, brecio, simbia, bles economica, 211 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 5: so emb and talmente. 212 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: Public opinion turned against mining. But soon enough the threats began. 213 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: The radio hosts received warning calls and their cell phones. 214 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: The language was very much like gang members, you know, 215 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 2: some of the terms they used and they were very vulgar. 216 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 2: So the assumption was that they were getting money channels 217 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: to them to carry out these threats. 218 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: This wasn't a small thing since the gangs in a 219 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: Cubode were known for their cruelty. Then the killing started. 220 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: First there was Marcello Rivera, a teacher, community leader and environmentalist. 221 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: He had been one of the first to sound the 222 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: alarm bell when Pacific Rim began prospecting in the region. 223 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 2: You know, he was a performer and he would come 224 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 2: to our We would have these community arts festivals for 225 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 2: our anniversary and he would always come, and he was 226 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 2: pretty close to us. 227 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: Riveta was tortured before he was killed, and his body 228 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: was thrown into a well. This had a huge impact 229 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: on those who were opposing the mining project. 230 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 2: And then the death threats said you know you better 231 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 2: shut up. Are the same thing that happened to Marcella 232 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 2: will happened to you. 233 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: Later that year, two other activists, Ramiro Riverra and Dora 234 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: Soortor gunn down. 235 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 8: We begin today with Elsalvador, where, for the second time 236 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 8: in a week of prominent anti gold mining activists has 237 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 8: been assassinated. On Saturday, thirty two year old Dora Alicia 238 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 8: Esino Soorto was shot dead near her home. She was 239 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 8: eight months pregnant carrying her two year old son. Soorto 240 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 8: and her husband were both active members of the Cabanas 241 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 8: Environment Committee, which is campaigned against the reopening of a 242 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 8: gold mine owned by the Vancouver based Pacific Rim Mining Company. 243 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 8: Last week, Ramiro Rivera Gomez, the vice president of the 244 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 8: Cabanas Environment Committee, was shot dead by heavily armed men 245 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 8: despite having been under twenty four hour police protection. 246 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, the death threats against Radio Victoria staff kept coming. 247 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: People would bang the doors at their homes at night 248 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: and caught guns, and I was scared. 249 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: I was really scared, and you know, I didn't know 250 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 2: if we should shut down the radio or what we 251 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 2: should do. But you know, people at the radio said, 252 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: this is our only weapon. 253 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 4: For us. 254 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: To stay on the air is the only way we 255 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: can resist this, and that's what we're going to do. 256 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: One day, Christina talked to one of the radio hosts, 257 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: a young man called Oscar. 258 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 2: And I said, Oscar, aren't you afraid? Aren't you scared? 259 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 2: And he went yeah. But you know, once you dedicate 260 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 2: so much of your life to something, it's your life, 261 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 2: and to not do that is to kind of lose 262 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 2: your life. So you know, this is what's important, and 263 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 2: this is what we have to do. 264 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: The three murders were never thoroughly investigated, but for the activists, 265 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: there was no doubt that they were the result of 266 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: the anti mining protests. Despite the threats and the killings, 267 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: the environmental defenders kept going. They brought on board new allies, 268 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 1: including Ancelo's archbishop, prominent churchmen. Monseigneur Sin Sakaye was also 269 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 1: a chemist, and he worried that the use of cyanide 270 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: by mining companies could cause a major environmental disaster. They 271 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: also convinced both right wing and left wing politicians to 272 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: join them. In two thousand and eight, the government decided 273 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: to stop approving permits for new mines. It wasn't a 274 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: ban yet, but President Andonio Saka said he wanted to 275 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 1: better understand the impact gold mining was having on the 276 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: country's water sources before proving any more permits. Pacific RIM 277 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: followed a complaint against also using a legal tool known 278 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: as investors State dispute settlement. We've covered this many times 279 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: and drilled but it's a quasi legal system that is 280 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: meant to protect companies from governments and enforce free trade agreements. 281 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,479 Speaker 1: In practice, what it does is help companies scare governments 282 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: away from a environmental and human rights legislation and push 283 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 1: forward harmful projects. Even activist pressure works and governments reject them. 284 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: The Pacific Room claimed that in Salor, by not allowing 285 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: it to move forward with its gold mine, had violated 286 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: its rights. The company asked for three hundred and fifty 287 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: million dollars to cover the revenue it was losing as 288 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: a result of the government's refusal to grant its permits. This, 289 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: of course, did nothing for Pacific Room's popularity in Ossalo. 290 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: In twenty sixteen, the tribunal made a rare ruling against 291 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: the company, and Esalor won the dispute, but not before 292 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: spending millions fighting it. Twenty seventeen marked the end of 293 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: the struggle an unprecedented decision, Esalor's government approved a law 294 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: that banned all mining for medals in Essalor well via 295 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 1: historico hiero. 296 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 9: Derobizio metali normlo exploras. 297 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: Ter The decision was unanimous. Midelina still can't believe it. 298 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 4: The wameuerdo. 299 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 3: This was such a marvelous thing that when I remember 300 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 3: it for me and sina la piel, as we say 301 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 3: in Salvo in English, we might say it gives me chills. 302 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: But if mining companies have learned anything in their dealings 303 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:34,959 Speaker 1: with Latin American countries, it's patient If political circumstances are 304 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,959 Speaker 1: not in your favor at first, don't worry. That might 305 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: change sooner than you think. In Esalor, it took only 306 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: two years. 307 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:49,479 Speaker 6: Thirty seven year old Naibu Kelly entered San Salvador's Convention Center, 308 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 6: a main voting station, a few hours later than planned 309 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 6: to cast his ballot. He brought all the confidence, swagger, 310 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 6: and even the black leather jack backet of a rock star. 311 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: In twenty nineteen, an outsider candidate called Naib Bukeley won 312 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,479 Speaker 1: the elections with an absolute majority. He rocked the country 313 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: as no one had done since the war. He assumed 314 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: leadership in a country dominated by two violent gangs, the 315 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: Marasoba Rucha and Barrio Yaesiocho, controlled entire neighborhoods in rural communities. 316 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: For years, they made us one of the most dangerous 317 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: countries in the world. Ordinary Salvadorians lived in fear of 318 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: leaving their homes every day. Hundreds were killed every year 319 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: for the crime of coming from a neighborhood controlled by 320 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: a rival gang. Every business, no matter the size, was 321 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: burdened with huge protection payments to the gangs. In twenty fifteen, 322 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: the most violent year, more than six thousand people were murdered, 323 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: more than any year during the civil war. In the beginning, 324 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: Naibukeli did what his predecessors had tried before him, sided 325 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 1: the gangs in return for prison privileges. The gangs agreed 326 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: to decrease the murder rate, but they soon started asking 327 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: for more. To pressure the government, one of the two 328 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: main gangs went on a killing spree, assassinating close to 329 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: one hundred innocent people in three days. Bokley changed his 330 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: strategy immediately. 331 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 4: Tonight. 332 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 9: The crackdown on gangs intensifies in El Salvador. As these 333 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:38,199 Speaker 9: images of mass arrests and police searching through homes and 334 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 9: families belongings at neighborhood checkpoints fuel concerns that human rights 335 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 9: are being violated. 336 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: He declared a state of emergency, suspending constitutional rights. He 337 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: empowered the authorities to arrest anyone suspected of being a 338 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: gang member. He even went on national TV and threatened 339 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: to star the detainees if the gangs tried to retaliate. 340 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 10: Oh, no, do that, and there will be no meal 341 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 10: time in the prisons. 342 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 6: One. 343 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 10: Let's see how long their home boys last in there. 344 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 1: Since then, more than seventy five thousand people have been 345 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: put in overcrowded jails. Among them are thousands of innocent people, 346 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: mostly young men from poor neighborhoods, with no ties to 347 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: the gangs. Official dulciers obtained by the newspaper at Farro 348 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:29,239 Speaker 1: showed that the reason for an arrest can be as 349 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 1: flimsy as he looked like a gang member or he 350 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,479 Speaker 1: was nervous when the police showed up. But the results 351 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: of this policy have been spectacular. Extortion and murders decreased dramatically. 352 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: The homicide rate is now one of the lowest in 353 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:48,160 Speaker 1: Latin America, even lower than in the United States. Now, 354 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: small businesses bloom everywhere, and ordinary Salvadorians have reclaimed their streets. 355 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: Nor is this sense of security more obvious than in 356 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: the center of Santa l What was a maze of 357 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: street stamp under the tight control of the gangs has 358 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: become a pleasant district with walkepp plazas, fountains and street 359 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: performers on the Plaza Hirado Barrios in front of the 360 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: Metropolitan Cathedral and at the side of the National Palace. 361 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: A brand new library, a gift from China. Solsa is 362 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 1: now one of the landmarks of Sansabel. But in Saloo's 363 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: democracy has paid the price for this piece. As Naebuchill's 364 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: popularity skyrocketed, he took control of all the institutions. To 365 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 1: rein in the judicial system. He hand picked the Supreme 366 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: Court magistrates and sent a third of Osavor's judges to 367 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: retirement by decree. 368 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 10: There is talk of an authoritarian populism and a hybrid 369 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 10: regime that is losing the guardrails of democracy. We have 370 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 10: all governmental powers concentrated in the executive branch and specifically 371 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 10: in the president, and this makes it so that the 372 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 10: system of checks and balances doesn't work. 373 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,959 Speaker 1: Luis Consalez is a lawyer and activist at the Salvadorian 374 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 1: Ecological Unit. This environmental organization has been at the site 375 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: of Idelina and Alis in the fight against mining and 376 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: joined various other environmental fights, including the expansion of sugarcane plantations, 377 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: the destruction of mangroves, and deforestation. It has also denounced 378 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: attacks against indigenous leaders. Louis has seen firsthand how the 379 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: state of emergency, which was meant to fight gangs, has 380 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 1: been used to attack environmental activists and community. 381 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 7: Leaders o Costria. 382 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 10: Without a doubt, and I'll give you a couple of examples. 383 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 10: Under the state of emergency, they wanted to build a 384 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 10: prison in Teotepek. There were people there working the land 385 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 10: and they expropriated it and the approach was either sell 386 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 10: it or the state will take it. And if you object, 387 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 10: remember that we are a regime. The same sort of 388 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 10: rhetoric was used against people who were organized in a 389 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 10: labor union where they were building a new airport. Remember 390 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 10: that we are a regime. They took the vendors off 391 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 10: the street with that too. Remember we are a regime. 392 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 7: Ila comuniaes Bisto an Asako. 393 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 10: The communities that want to say anything have been threatened 394 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 10: with putting people in prison. Indigenous leaders we work with 395 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 10: in Sonsnate the case of a father who was taken 396 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 10: to prison. They let him go after some time, but 397 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 10: it was if you keep talking. We have other leaders 398 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 10: where they've captured their family members. 399 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: It is on a coincidence that this repressive trend happened 400 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 1: at the same time that Bu began to look at 401 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: the potential of various extractive industries to help ESA's economy. 402 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 7: Yamatartivista already in twenty twenty one, this extractivist agenda resumed, 403 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 7: this very neoliberal agenda, let's say, extractive of environmental resources. 404 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 10: And it is within this framework that there are government 405 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 10: positions against environmental issues and against defenders. 406 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: Environmental leaders like Pedrokasas from a Central American Alliance against Mining, 407 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 1: say Bokilly's primary focus now that he's been re elected 408 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: is the. 409 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 4: Economy an next momental principal interest, well, principal economia. 410 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 10: In this moment, the primary interest where the primary concern 411 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 10: of the public is the economy. Lack of work, inflation, 412 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 10: this lack of economic opportunities in the country, and more 413 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 10: than sixty percent of the population is saying look, look, no, no, 414 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 10: I'm not doing very well. 415 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: This is especially true after Bookeley's signature move to improve 416 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: Aslo's economy backfired spectacularly. In twenty twenty one, he decided 417 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 1: to make bitcoin a national currency. Then he gambled with 418 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: the country's reserves by buying one hundred million dollars worth 419 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: of bitcoins. Virtually no one has adopted the new currency. Now, 420 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: Bukilly is desperate to bring invast stris back an. Environmental 421 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,439 Speaker 1: activists are convinced that Buqueili burned by his bitcoin mining, 422 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 1: wants to return to the old fashioned sort, and the 423 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 1: activists are in his way. In the middle of the night, 424 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: on the eleventh of January twenty twenty, three police patrols 425 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: pulled up in front of three houses in Santa Marta. 426 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: They arrested three men, Miguel Anghilgames, Pedro Rivas, and Alejandro Laynez. 427 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,159 Speaker 1: All three were members of ADDIS. Police told them that 428 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 1: they were accused of murdering Maria Ines Albarenga, the woman 429 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: who was said to be an informant to the army 430 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:39,360 Speaker 1: thirty years ago during the Civil War. The three men 431 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: were sent to Santalo to be charged by a judge. There, 432 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,959 Speaker 1: they learned that the director of ADDIS, Antonio Pacheco, and 433 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: the organization's lawyer, Saul Riuas, had also been arrested for 434 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,880 Speaker 1: the same case. A sixth man, Piedel Rosinos, who isn't 435 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: a member of ADDIS, was also taken into custody. All 436 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: of them fought within the ranks of the guerrillas in 437 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 1: the eighties and nineties. All deny any involvement in out 438 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 1: vetting as murder. These arrests were surprising for a lot 439 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: of reasons. Very few cases related to the war have 440 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: ever made their way to the courts. Except for a 441 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: handful of high impact cases, no one has been charged 442 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,679 Speaker 1: for crime related to the war. Why was a prosecutor's 443 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: office suddenly interested in this particular thirty year old murder 444 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: for with Deelina? The reason is clear. The Attorney General, 445 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 1: close allied to Naiveokeley, is trying to cripple at this 446 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: in preparation for Pucalli's move to bring mining back to 447 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: us Ala. The defendants cannot talk openly to journalists as 448 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: their trial is pending. We won't hear them in this podcast, 449 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: but they've always claimed their innocence on their behalf. Videlina 450 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 1: launched a campaign to denounce the arrests. She participated in 451 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: countless TV and radio shows and led protests in San 452 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: Salvor in front of the prison where the six men 453 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: were held in custody. 454 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 4: Ben and we've. 455 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 3: Come to ask that, in compliance with the judicial resolution, 456 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 3: the release of our comrades from prison is not further delayed. 457 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: She organized an international campaign of solidarity that included Washington 458 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: based organizations too. US congress persons wrote to Asavoora's government 459 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: to ask for the liberation of Addess activists. The arrest 460 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: fueled the belief that mining would soon make a comeback, 461 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: but so did other recent actions by the government. For example, 462 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: in May twenty one, ESAU join the Intergovernmental Form on Mining, Minerals, 463 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 1: Metals and Sustainable Development, an initiative founded by the Canadian 464 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: government to help countries develop mining operations. Why would a 465 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: country or mining as prohibited join such a club. That 466 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: same year, the government created a new institution, the Oil, 467 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: Energy and Mines Directorate, proving that the attraction of a 468 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 1: Savadorian resources is a priority for the government. One of 469 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: this institution's first missions was to evaluate the current legislation 470 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: on mining. The government of as and various ministers declined 471 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: multiple requests for an interview. For months, the pressure from 472 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: Videlina to freeer comrades seemed to be fruitless. The six 473 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 1: men remained in custody. They couldn't see their families. Not 474 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 1: even their lawyer, Denis Munios, was allowed to talk to them. 475 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: They were moved from prison to prison, experiencing increasingly heroing conditions. 476 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 10: Well very little zero health care, in humane conditions in 477 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 10: the sense that there was one toilet for two hundred 478 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 10: people very little space to move around. 479 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: This is Denis Munos, their lawyer. 480 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 10: They could hardly bathe their clean themselves because there was 481 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 10: not much water, zero drinking water in biologically unfavorable conditions. 482 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 10: So the conditions were really a lot. And and then 483 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 10: you have to watch out because that will really impact 484 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 10: the health of an older person who already has chronic 485 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 10: degenerative or other serious illnesses like diabetes or kidney failure 486 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 10: or even high blood pressure. 487 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: In something on his prison they spent their nights in 488 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: large cells with two hundred people, sometimes sleeping on the 489 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: bare floor with all the lights on. During the day, 490 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: they stayed in a courtyard so packed they couldn't even sit. 491 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 1: The meals consisted of eight spoonfuls of rice and a 492 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: few black beans. They all lost weight and developed chronic 493 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 1: illnesses due to malnourishment. On top of that, every day 494 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: someone would be dragged out of the cells and beaten 495 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: by the guards. Some mornings a prisoner wouldn't wake up, 496 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 1: his body was wrapped in its sheets and taken out. 497 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: Most of the prisoners, like the activists from Santa Marta, 498 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: were in temporary custody awaiting their trial. 499 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 10: So one of them for example, told me that he 500 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 10: still has nightmares about what he experienced in that place. 501 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 1: And then Inela received a tremendous blow. Her son was detained. 502 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: The police told her that it was because they suspected 503 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: he was a member of a gang. 504 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 4: She knew what that meant, and. 505 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 3: They will mess with the very, very very private, intimate 506 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 3: interests of a family member. I said, no, no, I 507 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 3: will not allow my son to be incarcerated because I 508 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 3: know my son, and everyone in the community knows my son. 509 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 3: He's never been involved with any gang, but he's being 510 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 3: accused of being a gang member. When they arrested him, 511 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 3: I immediately went to the police station. That's the first 512 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 3: place I went. What I want to tell you is 513 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 3: what the chief of the Santa Marta police station said 514 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 3: to me. Look, he said, here, we have a very 515 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 3: good list of people to arrest. 516 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 1: For Vida. There was no doubt they were attacking her 517 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: through her son. She was desperate. She thought she wouldn't 518 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: see him for years. She knew of the detention conditions 519 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: and couldn't imagine her son in a cell with hundreds 520 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: of actual gang members. Immediately went to social media to 521 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 1: denounce the arrest. She contacted on Budsman. She activated her 522 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:26,120 Speaker 1: network of national and international allies. 523 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:29,720 Speaker 3: But this is the moment when my lions clause came 524 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:33,720 Speaker 3: out because he's my son. So I don't know helplessness. 525 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:36,720 Speaker 3: I mean, I don't know how to explain it. But 526 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 3: I said, this is the time to fight for my 527 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 3: son to be released. And of course I also thought 528 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 3: about all the effort I've put into this cause for 529 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 3: so long. It can't be in vain. 530 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: This time the pressure worked. About forty hours later, her 531 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 1: son was released. They just kicked him out of since 532 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 1: with the Beca's jail, no charges were brought against him 533 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: and no explanation was given. Midelina was lucky. Dozens of 534 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: families have been without news of their incarcerated relatives for years. 535 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,359 Speaker 1: They often don't know where they are jailed or even 536 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: if they are still alive. That's why environmental activists are 537 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: so scared of the state of exception, Bokeley declared two 538 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 1: years ago. It means anyone can be tagged as a 539 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:24,680 Speaker 1: gang member and disappear into the nightmarish prison system. The 540 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 1: government wasn't done trying to intimidate Adis. In August twenty 541 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,480 Speaker 1: twenty three, Bokeley declared the militarization of the whole going 542 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: S region. Eight thousand soldiers were sent there officially to 543 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 1: fight against the gangs. For the first time since the war, 544 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 1: armored vehicles entered Santa Marta. 545 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:48,359 Speaker 2: Salang, Victoria and. 546 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,240 Speaker 3: And of course a good sized group of them settled 547 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 3: in Victoria around Santa Marta and it was terrifying. 548 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:57,640 Speaker 1: For those who survived the war, seeing the army patrolling 549 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:00,440 Speaker 1: in front of their houses was a traumatic flash back. 550 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: Buchilles regime is characterized by its opacity. Many of its 551 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 1: actions come with no explanation. The militarization of Cabaygas could 552 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: be part of buchilles cracked on gangs. It could also 553 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,440 Speaker 1: be a warning to activists in the area who might 554 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: oppose any of his plans. The uncertainty is just another 555 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: burden on community organizers and environmental defenders. Finally, on September fifth, 556 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, the five BYUS activists were sent back 557 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: home after a judge granted them house arrest. Videlina thinks 558 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: the international pressure on the government paid off. The men 559 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 1: are still recovering from the horrendous experience in prison. Their 560 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 1: trials had to start this month. Last February, naib Bulkelly 561 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 1: ran for reelection, even though the constitution clearly says that 562 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:48,360 Speaker 1: no one can hold office twice. Boosted by his crackdown 563 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:50,840 Speaker 1: on gangs, he won with more than eighty percent of 564 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 1: the vote. In his new term, he faces no political opposition. 565 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,440 Speaker 1: His party also won fifty four of the sixty seats 566 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 1: at the National Assembly. For the activists, Luis Gonsalez, the 567 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:08,239 Speaker 1: future under an increasingly powerful Bochille looks grim. Still, he 568 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 1: has a lot of faith in community organizers. 569 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 10: Cambius, Are we going to have an environmental policy that 570 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 10: only changes with special interests, where the economic issue, the 571 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:24,799 Speaker 10: security issue is the only thing the government discusses with 572 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 10: all of the impacts that has on the poorest and 573 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:32,799 Speaker 10: most vulnerable communities. 574 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: Let's hope not. 575 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:37,239 Speaker 10: And I still believe that hope lies in the communities 576 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 10: that are resisting. I believe that now more than ever, 577 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 10: we have to resist. We have to resist to be 578 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:47,560 Speaker 10: able to face these anti activists attacks, and hopefully the 579 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 10: resistance and life will win out over these other interests. 580 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:08,880 Speaker 3: Drilled is an original Critical Frequency production. This episode was 581 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 3: reported and written by Sebastian Escalon. The episode was narrated 582 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 3: by Yesienne Funess and edited by me Amy westervelts I 583 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:24,440 Speaker 3: also read the English translations for Videlina. Our senior editor 584 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:29,000 Speaker 3: for this series is Alan Brown. Peter Duff, our audio engineer, 585 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 3: read the male English translation parts in this episode, and 586 00:37:34,239 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 3: sound design and engineered it. Because we're a small shop 587 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 3: here at Drilled, all hands on deck. You can get 588 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:44,480 Speaker 3: a transcript of this episode, plus lots more information from 589 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 3: this series, including other episodes and related articles and documents, 590 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,760 Speaker 3: on our website at Drilled dot media. You can also 591 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 3: sign up for our weekly newsletter there. People tell us 592 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:01,759 Speaker 3: it helps them cut through the overwhelming fire hose of 593 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:05,560 Speaker 3: information about climate. It's never more than ten minutes to 594 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 3: read every week, and you can follow us on Instagram 595 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 3: and TikTok at Drilled Media. Thanks for listening and we'll 596 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:14,479 Speaker 3: see you next time.