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dam-l (Fwd) BIO-BIO: 12 detained


------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date sent:      	Wed, 7 Oct 1998 12:08:49 -0700
From:           	aleta@irn.org (Aleta Brown)
To:             	irn-biobio@igc.org

CHIP News for October 6, 1998

SOURCE:  EL MERCURIO
SOURCE:  LA TERCERA

--  TWELVE DETAINED IN UPPER BIO BIO.  Twelve people
were detained and then released Monday after a confrontation in
the upper Bio Bio, Region VIII.  The incident occurred after the
group who supports the eight families who refuse to sign land-
swap contracts with Endesa for the construction of the company's
US$500 million dam occupied the Nireco bridge, stopping all
traffic.  Ralco's construction would flood 600 hectares of
Pehuenche land, causing the relocation of 91 families.
        The governor of the Bio Bio province, Juan Carlos Coronata,
said the regional government will not tolerate violence as progress
is being made in the search for improved living situations for the
affected inhabitants.  However, a study released Monday shows
that the land estates Endesa is offering in its relocation plan are
not necessarily suitable due to poor soil quality and lack of
firewood.  Coronata said both the government and Endesa are
open to discussions with the families opposed to Ralco.
Authorities have accused Temuco-based land council Consejo de
Todas las Tierras of being the instigator of the violence.
        Construction on Ralco is currently stalled due to the
controversy and unclear status of the project.  Construction will
not begin until the issues are resolved.  The opposing families
have said they will not meet with the new director of the National
Indigenous Development Board (Conadi) Rodrigo Gonzalez until he
makes an official announcement of his position on Ralco.

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