(story and pictures from Vancouver Media Co-op )

VANCOUVER - Pacific Rim Mining held its annual general meeting in downtown Vancouver today - attended by a few directors and more than a dozen protesters.

Most of the demonstrators were from the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) in the US Pacific Northwest. They wore tags describing themselves as shareholders in democracy, human rights, access to clean water and "our future."

Vancouver-based Pacific Rim Mining is suing the people of El Salvador after the government refused to allow it to mine using methods that would poison El Salvador's rivers. The suit for millions in "lost profits" has been filed under the Central American Free Trade Agreement. CISPES is calling on the company's directors to drop the suit.

Two CISPES representatives were allowed into the meeting, then ejected after they tried to speak.

watch?v=lxRMssTgp-g%3Ffs%3D1%26amp%3Bhl%3Den_US