ACAP March in Opposition to Infrastructure that Destroys the Environment and Communities

On October 27th, 2004, people representing fifty communities and colonias from Soyapango and San Jacinto affected by the beltway construction marched to oppose the contruction of a six lane highway which will endanger many of these communities and colonias. The BCIE did not open their door to them. The MOP received them, but they did not show any real interest in their requests.

Two years ago SHARE began to accompany the struggle of ACAP, The Association of Communities Against the Beltway, in their efforts to stop the construction of a multi-billion dollar highway which would circumnavigate San Salvador. The beltway is part of a large infrastructure development plan referred to as Plan Puebla Panama (PPP), which is intended to improve El Salvador and Central America’s infrastructure. The beltway and the PPP are based on a goal of promoting export oriented growth. While these projects have caused considerable environmental damage and have greatly increased foreign debt in Central America, the biggest criticism is that they favor the interests of large multi-national businesses and neglect the need for broader, less expensive, local development initiatives.

ACAP is a grassroots organization without an office, without personnel, and with few resources. What ACAP lacks in resources, however, it makes up for in “compromiso” or commitment. The volunteer staff all lives in the areas affected by the beltway construction; their commitment is therefore driven by what they have at stake. Staff members are extremely busy, and due to a series of events that occurred recently, have been busier than ever.

At the beginning of the rainy season, the communities bordering the creek El Garrobo, which is a natural drainage mechanismfor the rain waters off the mountain range El Balsamo, were at risk of being devastated by mudslides. Road construction companies irresponsibly dumped dirt from their work into the creek, creating this risk. ACAP quickly reacted by touring the zone and assessing the damage, mounting a press conference to denounce the irresponsible construction, and by filing a complaint before city officials from San Salvador and the Salvadoran Congress. ACAP achieved its objective. Construction companies were forced to stop dumping land in the creek and efforts to mitigate the damage done are underway.

In June, several families of the community Angels in Apopa were affected by a mudslide caused by the strong rains and the faulty construction of the third phase of beltway. Again ACAP took action. In addition to raising public and governmental awareness to this manmade disaster, ACAP together with the technical support of lawyers and engineers connected to the Mayor’s Office of San Salvador, which has been an ally to ACAP throughout this process, is suing the Ministry of Public Works for damages.

The third important event occurred in October when the Ministry of Public Works denied the release of the study which examined the expected environmental impacts of the east section construction of the beltway. ACAP, whose most active base is found in these communities, immediately executed an emergency plan to file a complaint before the Salvadoran Congress and organize a march from the plaza Divino Salvador del Mundo to the Ministry of Public Works. While ACAP representatives were received by government officials, the meetings to date have produced no concrete results.

Over the course of the past two years, ACAP has creatively applied pressure for change via public protests and lobby meetings with law and policy makers. ACAP’s advocacy efforts have attempted to stop the loans for the beltway, while challenging the vision behind the beltway. Unfortunately, the government already constructed the first phases of the beltway. The struggle remains on just one critical front- in the east. Along with Interaction and Oxfam America, SHARE will continue to accompany ACAP’s efforts to protect the communities affected by the beltway.

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