PRESENTACION ESCRITO AMICUS CURIAE RELATIVO AL FONDO DE LA DIFERENCIA

The document is a legal submission to the ICSID tribunal in the case of Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador. It argues that the state's refusal to grant a mining concession is a legitimate exercise of its duty to protect human rights and the environment, particularly in a region with high population density and water scarcity. The brief emphasizes that environmental impact assessments and community consultations are essential legal requirements, not mere formalities, and that the 'public interest' must be defined through environmental democracy and the rights of access to information and participation. Furthermore, it documents a pattern of violence and attacks against environmental defenders in the Cabañas Department, which it links to the social conflict generated by Pac Rim's presence.

• The amici argue that international human rights law requires states to implement legal frameworks that protect citizens from environmental risks posed by third parties, and that El Salvador's application of such a framework to prevent risks from mining is not an illicit act.
• The brief asserts that 'public interest' should be defined based on environmental democracy and the rights of access to information, participation, and justice, as outlined in Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration.
• The requirement in the Mining Law for authorizations from surface landowners in the exploitation zone is presented as a practical application of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, ensuring the participation of directly affected persons.
• The document reports that Pac Rim's presence in the Cabañas Department led to severe social conflict and a series of violent attacks, including the murders of environmental defenders Marcelo Rivera (June 2009), Ramiro Rivera and Felicita Eschevarría (December 20, 2009), and Dora Alicia Resinos Sorto (December 26, 2009).
• Testimony from ADES indicates that over 70% of the population in Cabañas rejects mining due to risks to water sources, and that Pac Rim attempted to manufacture social license through payments of approximately $1 million USD per year to community projects, parties, and mayors.

APA

Orellana, M. A. (2014). PRESENTACION ESCRITO AMICUS CURIAE RELATIVO AL FONDO DE LA DIFERENCIA. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PacRim_AmicusEsp_25Jul2014.pdf

Chicago

Orellana, Marcos A. PRESENTACION ESCRITO AMICUS CURIAE RELATIVO AL FONDO DE LA DIFERENCIA. Center for International Environmental Law, 2014. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PacRim_AmicusEsp_25Jul2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Orellana |first1=Marcos A. |title=PRESENTACION ESCRITO AMICUS CURIAE RELATIVO AL FONDO DE LA DIFERENCIA |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=25 July 2014 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PacRim_AmicusEsp_25Jul2014.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{orellana2014presentacion, author = {Orellana, Marcos A.}, title = {{PRESENTACION ESCRITO AMICUS CURIAE RELATIVO AL FONDO DE LA DIFERENCIA}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PacRim_AmicusEsp_25Jul2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }