Fighting over Mining in El Salvador: Communism Will Use Natural Wealth for the Masses’ Needs, Not for Profit
EL SALVADOR, December 12— “We, the working class, are the only ones who can make a difference! We are the majority. United we can end this oppressive and murderous system!” said D. “In our meetings, we have discussed Red Flag. We know that we need to organize ourselves with more commitment. The revolutionary struggle to mobilize the masses for communism is urgent.”
Fascist President Bukele has highlighted the economic potential of the mining industry. According to him, gold deposits in El Salvador are worth more than $131 billion, That is equivalent to 380% of the national GDP. He claims that the ban on gold mining is “absurd.” He claims that El Salvador is the only country in the world with such a policy.
“Look at the hypocrisy of the fascist Bukele!” A commented. “He says that we have natural wealth due to our location in the so-called Ring of Fire, which must be taken advantage of by reversing the mining ban to supposedly ‘create thousands of jobs and promote the development of local economies.’”
What actually motivates Bukele and all capitalists is their thirst for profits and desire to magnify their bags of gold. The danger is growing for everyone who lives where there is gold, silver, and other metals.
The capitalists/imperialists care little about the environmental damage caused by the projects they develop, both in mining and hydrocarbons. They don’t care about the exploited working class.
“None of them is a lesser evil. All capitalist rulers seek to become the greatest power with the most commercial power. Hence all these imperialist wars that we are suffering, so much genocide. And it makes us reflect: How much is the life of the working-class worth in this system?” asked J.
Red Flag reported on the five community leaders of Santa Marta who were imprisoned for being the main force behind an anti-mining law passed in March 2017. After many protests and without grounds for their apprehension, they were released after more than a year. Their freedom did not last at all. The ruling was annulled, and they will go to trial in 2025. Always for capitalist interests.
Now, due to Bukele’s decision, three hundred people demonstrated on December 10 outside the legislative seat. They demanded that the deputies not repeal the law that prohibited metal mining. They shouted, “for life, no to mining” and “gold isn’t for drinking, water is!” Police prevented the demonstrators from reaching the headquarters.
Despite the constant protests, there is no response. In a capitalist system, gold is worth more than life. Profits are worth more than the working class and the environment. We don’t need to fight for reforms – that’s not the solution. The only solution is to fight for communism.
ICWP fights directly for communism, for eliminating everything that capitalism has created. To wrest power from the capitalists. “Power to the working class!” We do not want to change capitalist politicians, nor any reform.
Mobilizing the Masses for Communism: The Only Solution
We all concluded that workers, like soldiers, are all our class siblings. They are exploited and turned into cannon fodder for the capitalists’ profits.
Therefore, we must fight to completely eradicate this system of destruction and fight for communism. Communism will end environmental degradation, exploitation of the working class, and wage slavery.
In Red Flag letters and articles, we see how our comrades in South Africa expose how miners risk their lives every day. The conditions in which they live. They inspire us with their struggles to unify us and fight against all this injustice. This encourages us to resist and fight.
Capitalism will not stop exploiting these miners and mines, which sicken and kill masses with their water pollution. We have to fight for communism, where we will only use the resources that are needed to improve the lives of workers, not to enrich any exploiter.
The whole working class can unite and fight massively with ICWP to end capitalism. To eradicate it definitively and build communism. Join our ICWP party, help distribute Red Flag. Let’s organize for communism!
Read our pamphlet about the fight for communism in South Africa here or here