Free Guatemala’s Madre Vieja River
Recently
100 people, members of different Communities of Nueva Concepción, Escuintla,
organized to release four dams on the Madre Vieja River, that had prevented
water from reaching the middle and lower basins of the river, and had been strangling
mangrove systems below.
100 people, members of different Communities of Nueva Concepción, Escuintla,
organized to release four dams on the Madre Vieja River, that had prevented
water from reaching the middle and lower basins of the river, and had been strangling
mangrove systems below.
Using picks and shovels the group opened the dams which had been
built unilaterally and irresponsibly by palm and sugarcane companies. For two
months the community members had attempted to initiate dialogue with the representatives
of Hamme Group producers of palm oil. After several meetings and unfulfilled agreements
by the company, the communities decided to take direct action to solve the
problem that had been affecting thousands of people. But within a few days after their action, and before the water could even reach the lower boundraries, the palm and
sugarcane companies had reconstructed the dams. once again blocking the opportunity for people and
mangroves to receive the river’s life-giving water.
built unilaterally and irresponsibly by palm and sugarcane companies. For two
months the community members had attempted to initiate dialogue with the representatives
of Hamme Group producers of palm oil. After several meetings and unfulfilled agreements
by the company, the communities decided to take direct action to solve the
problem that had been affecting thousands of people. But within a few days after their action, and before the water could even reach the lower boundraries, the palm and
sugarcane companies had reconstructed the dams. once again blocking the opportunity for people and
mangroves to receive the river’s life-giving water.
We
hearby make formal complaint with the Ministry of Environment, the Prosecution
of Crimes Against the Environment, the National Council of Protected Areas, and the
Office of the Human Rights situation. We are asking them to carry out urgent
monitoring of these places where the dams are located and to take steps necessary to ensure
access to water for the thousands of families affected by these actions.
hearby make formal complaint with the Ministry of Environment, the Prosecution
of Crimes Against the Environment, the National Council of Protected Areas, and the
Office of the Human Rights situation. We are asking them to carry out urgent
monitoring of these places where the dams are located and to take steps necessary to ensure
access to water for the thousands of families affected by these actions.
We
demand that the National Council of Protected Areas – CONAP initiate legal
proceedings against appropriate parties, both directly and indirectly involved
with these dams. We ask them to protect by law the agricultural ecosystems,
mangrove environments and its inhabitants.
demand that the National Council of Protected Areas – CONAP initiate legal
proceedings against appropriate parties, both directly and indirectly involved
with these dams. We ask them to protect by law the agricultural ecosystems,
mangrove environments and its inhabitants.
We
also call on local authorities to provide support to the communities and to the
OHCHR and others, before these water rights conflicts results in violent acts
being taken against us.
also call on local authorities to provide support to the communities and to the
OHCHR and others, before these water rights conflicts results in violent acts
being taken against us.
Redmanglar
International
International
Guatemala,
Central America
Central America