‘We demand respect for our rights as a people’

By Other News Sources on September 7, 2004 • ( Leave a comment )

Coordinating Committee of the Communities Affected by the Chixoy Hydroelectric Dam

September 7, 2004
The Guatemalan government and the World Bank must resolve damages caused by the Chixoy dam, say activists.

PRESS RELEASE Pueblo Viejo, Guatemala: We, the communities from Quich‚, Alta and Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, have been and continue to be affected for more than 28 years by the Chixoy Hydroelectric Dam – a so-called “development” project promoted by the Government of Guatemala. Construction of the project by the National Institute of Electricity (INDE) began in 1976 with financing from the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank. Project developers entered our communities and deceived us offering many promises to reach their goals. We resisted their project proposals. Nevertheless, they used the armed conflict in the country as a strategy to accuse us of being guerrillas and to conduct several massacres to displace us violently from our lands and strip us of our rights, especially our lands, homes and crops and other possessions At present the Guatemalan Government, the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank, do not recognize that our Rights have been violated, and even more, they have not recognized that our possessions have been flooded. For more than 28 years, our right to live a balanced life, in harmony and with the possibility of providing a better life for our future generations has been taken away. What is worse is the lack of compliance with the promises made during the promotion of that “deadly project.” In light of these violations, we demand the following: To the Guatemalan
Government, World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank:

Immediate reparations for the damages and losses caused by the construction of the Chixoy Hydroelectric Dam, and for the Guatemalan State to accept responsibility for the committed violations of Human Rights.
Prompt compliance with the promises made by INDE since 1975, when the construction of the Chixoy dam began.
A halt to construction of new hydroelectric dams, because they do not benefit affected communities. As an example, none of the communities in the proximity to the Chixoy dam have electricity, even though the generating facility is close by. We condemn the government of Guatemala

For its lack of interest in promoting public policies to improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples.
For responding to the interests of transnational companies and the economic sectors.
For allowing the economic interests of a few to prevail while negotiating away the rights of communities over their natural resources.
For charging exhorbitant electricity fees from consumers, especially indigenous communities and the poor. Therefore, we demand that the Guatemalan government:
Halt all megaprojects for which we have not been consulted and which threaten our lives and that of future generations; the Chixoy dam is an example because of all the irreparable damage it caused.
Revise the strategy of billing to consumers, now in the hands of Deorsa, in order to address improper billing.
Immediate compliance with promises made by INDE since 1976 when construction of the Chixoy dam began.This includes the following: 1. Urgently purchase fertile lands, build appropriate housing and construct public services where communities live. Provide sustainable economic projects, educational grants for our children and grandchildren who live in extreme poverty and free electricity; all in order to be able to provide for our families and guarantee them better and dignifying living conditions. 2. Resolve with extreme urgency the
electricity crisis in the community of Pacux where villagers have not had electricity or water for two months. Use funds from the Rural Electrification Fund created when INDE was privatized. 3. Create a working group including representatives of the Government of the Guatemalan Republic, the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank, the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, Minugua and representatives of the affected communities to discuss and come up with solution.