Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica - Ecobrief

Ecobreves – MEXICO: Peasants Step Up Opposition to Dam

MEXICO CITY, Jan 30 2006 (IPS) - Mexican peasant farmers who oppose construction of La Parota dam in the southwestern state of Guerrero pledge to step up actions to halt the million-dollar project, following a court ruling in their favor.

A local agrarian court ruled on Jan. 18 that one of the 19 assemblies, in which a majority voted in favor of selling their lands, was illegal. The land is to be flooded by the reservoir of the 900 megawatt dam.

“The 'campesinos' feel much more encouraged and they are blocking the Federal Electricity Commission technicians' access to the area,” Mario Patrón, attorney for the opposition groups, who maintain that the assemblies organized by the authorities involved bribes, said in a conversation with Tierramérica.

The government denies the accusations and announced that nothing will delay the call for bids on the megaproject, scheduled to take place in the next month.