Monday, October 29, 2012

Communities denounce Xalalá dam and oil exploitation


The following press releases have been translated by NISGUA as part of its ongoing human rights accompaniment of communities threatened by the Xalalá dam project.

Press Release 1
25 October 2012
Guatemala

Imposition of Development Projects Threatens the Life of Communities in Ixcán

Considering that the Ministry of Energy and Mines recently announced a new bidding process for the construction of the Xalalá dam and oil exploration in the municipality of Ixcán, social organizations and community members from this region publicly state our concern and our rejection of the implementation of these megaprojects that threaten the well-being of our communities.

The expropriation and extraction of natural resources by the oligarchy, businessmen, and the army in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples (pueblos originarios), has historically generated displacement, poverty, repression and serious human rights abuses, including genocide.

We reiterate our concern and call for the support of other organizations, considering the risk that the imposition of these large-scale development projects (megaproyectos) could lead to further violations of community rights, as seen in Polochic, San Juan Sacatepéquez, San Raymundo, San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Barillas and Totonicapán.

We hope to strengthen alliances with different groups also participating in the struggle to defend land and territory, respect for community rights and referendums, and our rejection of the repression we currently face as indigenous peoples for engaging in this struggle.

We denounce the National Electrification Institute (INDE) for withholding information about the impacts of the construction of the Xalalá dam and for minimizing the negative effects it could have on the community.

For these reasons, we demand:
  • That the State respect the results of the good faith community referendums held in Ixcán (April 20, 2007) and Uspantán (October 29, 2010), in which participants voted against the large-scale development projects planned for our regions.
  • That the government and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, as a matter of urgency, cancel the Ministerial Agreement number 321-2,012, published in the official government paper (Diario Oficial) on October 15 of this year on the construction of the Xacbal Delta Dam in the municipality of Ixcan. We also ask for the cancellation of the Government Agreement 172-2, 012, published on September 4 on oil exploration and drilling in the Xalbal area in the municipalities of Ixcán, El Quiché and Barillas, Huehuetenango.
  • That the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources comply with its function to protect the environment and people’s lives, and refuse to allow dams and oil exploration and drilling in our communities.
  • That all governmental entities provide truthful information to the communities and engage in a dialogue that respects agreements and decisions reached with the communities.
  • That the President and other governmental entities respect that the communities defending their territory and demanding better living conditions for their people have the right to protest, and refuse to allow the army, the national police, or private agents to endanger peoples’ lives.

To defend our land and our territory is to defend the life and dignity of our people!

Association of Communities for Development and the Defense of Land and Natural Resources (ACODET)
Commission to Follow-up on the Ixcán Community Referendum
Movement of People’s Resistance for Life in Ixcán (MOPREVI)

A mural on a church in a community threatened by the Xalalá hydroelectric dam project reads, "The Maya people deserve respect for life, land, and natural resources."
Press Release 2
October 2012

On October 25, a delegation of community and organizational representatives from the municipalities of Ixcán, Cobán and Uspantán met with government officials in charge of implementing the Xalalá hydroelectric dam project. The delegates presented a document signed by authorities and representatives from 53 communities in Ixcán, Cobán and Uspantán that are threatened by the construction of the dam.

Juan Carlos Morataya, Project Development Manager for INDE (the National Electrification Institute), Edwin Rodas, Vice Minister of Energy and Mines, José Fernando Carrera, head of the SEGEPLAN (Secretary General of Planning and Programming for the Presidency), and the Vice Minister of the Environment all participated in the meeting. Congressional representatives Amilcar Pop and Carlos Mejía, presidents of the Transparency Commission and the Indigenous People’s Commission respectively, organized the meeting.

During the meeting, community representatives reiterated the decision made during the good faith community referendums held in Ixcán (April 20, 2007) and Uspantán (October 29, 2010). In the referendums, participants rejected the construction of the Xalalá dam, because it would flood the best land in 58 communities, affecting their rights to land, food, health, consultation, and participation in deciding development priorities. The representatives also expressed concern regarding potential human rights violations, pointing out that INDE has still not paid compensation for damages to the Achí communities affected by the Chixoy dam that was constructed over 30 years ago.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines affirmed that it has not received requests for, nor has it authorized, geological studies for the Xalalá area. The representative from INDE stated that the institution does plan to carry out geological, economic, and social studies to confirm the viability of the Xalalá dam. One of the officials explained that SEGEPLAN is conducting social work in order to raise consciousness among the COCODES [local development committees] and community members, so that they will accept the dam. INDE has determined that most communities in the region have no electricity and the institution plans to promote electricity projects in rural areas so that the communities will value the importance of electricity and will approve the construction of the dam.

José Fernando Carrera, head of SEGEPLAN and Vice President of the Executive Council of INDE, confirmed that SEGEPLAN and INDE signed an agreement in July to design plans, within the framework of the national electricity plan, for land use and regulation (ordenamiento territorial) in the municipalities affected by the Xalalá dam. INDE contracted and financed 8 people that earn between 12,000 and 14,000 quetzales [approximately USD $1,500 - $1,800]. Carrera said he recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples as established in the International Labour Organization’s Convention 169. He said not one employee of SEGEPLAN should try to convince the communities, much less pressure them or place conditions, such as approval for the dam, on development projects. He asked people to report the names of employees that try to manipulate the communities.

The representative of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources said that he is unaware of the Xalalá project. The law, however, requires that his ministry verify the environmental impacts and consent of the affected communities.

XACBAL DAM

After the meeting, a group of Ixil Indigenous Authorities from the municipalities of Cotzal, Chajul and Nebaj asked for the immediate suspension of Ministerial Agreement 321-2,012, authorizing the construction of the Xacbal Delta Dam, because the affected communities and indigenous authorities were not consulted about it. The representatives from the Ixcán joined those from the Ixil in this request, due to the fact that the construction of this new dam will only intensify the environmental impacts on the Xalbal River.

The indigenous mayor of Cotzal also asked for further follow-up and compliance with the agreements previously signed in the case of the Palo Viejo dam. The congressional representatives asked the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources to share a copy of the approved environmental impact studies for dams in the Ixil area, so that the representatives can review them and analyze their legality. The Vice Minister of the Environment agreed to share and analyze the studies within 20 business days, and in the case of manipulation, he promised to suspend operations of the corresponding dams.

Association of Communities for Development and the Defense of Land and Natural Resources (ACODET)
Commission to Follow-up on the Ixcán Community Referendum
Movement of People’s Resistance for Life in Ixcán (MOPREVI)

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