On 21 and 22 May 2023, the Community of Santa Marta, Cabañas, El Salvador reported military deployment around their territory. This intimidatory presence of the military comes in addition to attacks and threats against the community resisting mining operations, including the detention of five environmental defenders, Miguel Ángel Gámez, Alejandro Laínez García, Pedro Antonio Rivas Laínez, Antonio Pacheco and Saúl Agustín Rivas Ortega in January 2023, and another, Manuel Gámez Morales, in May 2023. These defenders played a key role in the campaign which resulted in a ban on metal mining in the country. The community of Santa Marta states that the Bukele administration seeks mining opportunities in the area despite the prohibitive regulations.