Ecobreves – ARGENTINA-URUGUAY: Threat to Block International Crossings

By - - and IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

BUENOS AIRES, Apr 21 2008 (IPS) - Residents of the northeastern Argentine city of Gualeguaychú threatened to completely block the three international bridges that connect their country to Uruguay in protest against a paper pulp mill on the shared border river. The Environmental Citizens Assembly of Gualeguaychú stated that it will hold a march on April 27 against the Finnish-owned mill, located on the Uruguayan side of the river, and will block the bridges on the Uruguay River. The protesters hope to pressure Uruguay to convince the Botnia company's representatives to show up in court. They have been “in contempt” of court since March because they did not appear after the first subpoena, Angeles Pereyra, attorney at the Center for Human Rights and Environment, told Tierramérica. The environmentalists filed a complaint against Botnia for alleged contamination of the river. The corporation said it had not received the first subpoena. The Uruguayan government received the second and passed it along.