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dam-l CONADI DETECTS IRREGULARITIES IN RALCO



I apologize for sending this out late. I was away on vacation and just
returned to my desk.

Aleta Brown

>Subject: CHIP News for July 14, 1998

>SOURCE:  EL MERCURIO
>SOURCE:  LA TERCERA
 --  CONADI DETECTS IRREGULARITIES IN RALCO.  A report
>published yesterday by the UPI  alleges that internal papers from
>the National Indigenous Development Board (Conadi) confirm
>numerous "irregularities" related to the construction of Endesa's
>Ralco hydroelectric dam project.
>        Quoting an unidentified internal Conadi document, UPI says
>the state's indigenous persons' watchdog agency is questioning the
>tactics used by Endesa to get Pehuenche (indigenous peoples)
>families to accept Endesa's offer for removing them from their
>homes.
>        The internal document allegedly cites evidence showing
>Endesa convinced the families that Ralco was already approved,
>with Conadi's blessing, and they had no choice but to accept the
>land offer.  The document also states that after a field visit, Conadi
>representatives learned there were differences between the
>documents the accepting Pehuenche signed, and what they
>believed they had signed.
>        The Ralco project, which Endesa plans to begin construction
>on this year, is highly controversial because the construction of its
>reservoir means the flooding of sacred indigenous lands and the
>necessary removal of 90 Pehuenche families.  The Ralco project
>cannot go forward without Conadi's approval, and this body plans
>to make a preliminary set of decisions before July 30.

Chile Information Project

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Aleta Brown
Campaign Associate
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way
Berkeley, CA 94703 USA
Phone: 1.510.848.1155
Fax: 1.510.848.1008
email: aleta@irn.org
http://www.irn.org