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dam-l (Fwd) Penechue ultimatum: Biobio




------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date sent:      	Wed, 30 Sep 1998 16:51:46 -0700
From:           	aleta@irn.org (Aleta Brown)
To:             	irn-biobio@igc.org

CHIP News for September 30, 1998

>SOURCE:  EL MERCURIO
>SOURCE:  LA TERCERA
--  PEHUENCHE GIVE GONZALEZ ULTIMATUM.  A group of
>Pehuenche gave Rodrigo Gonzalez, the new National Indigenous
>Development Board (Conadi) director, an ultimatum Monday, saying
>he has 48 hours to announce whether he is for or against Endesa's
>US$500 million Ralco hydroelectric project on the Bio Bio river in
>Region VIII.  Ralco's construction would flood 600 hectares of
>Pehuenche land.
>        Pehuenche leader Nicolasa Quintriman said the eight families
>who have not signed land barter contracts with Endesa are not
>willing to give up their land for the dam's construction.  According to
>indigenous law, the dam cannot be constructed without the permission of
>all affected families.  Quintriman said that Endesa has stepped up
>efforts to trick the eight families into signing, but these families do
>not want money or luxuries.  They want their land, and say the land has
>no price.  They will also block the roads when Endesa tries to continue
>construction, she said.
>        The Conadi Board of Directors also opposed Gonzalez's
>appointment, have not recognized him as director, and said they are
>seriously thinking about creating a new Conadi.  Board member Jose
>Santos Millao said the group has held private meetings concerning
>the Indigenous Peoples' General Assembly on October 5 and 6 in
>Temuco, the capital Region IX.

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