Rio Cobre’s peasants want more respect for the land

Since August 8 2008, the leaders of the opposition movement have stayed near the riverdemanding that the National Environment Agency ANAM (Autoridad Nacional del Medio Ambiente) does not ratify the hydroelectric project, because they consider it damaging for the environment.

Mocamderco announced that they will continue with their fight until they win.

Peasants and indigenous people have been fighting the project for the last five years and have been relentless in their efforts.

Mocamderco fears that a hydroelectric project in the river will contaminate the waters, and will kill aquatic flora and fauna and force them to move from the area.

The project Estrecho S.A. started to create conflicts in 2002, when Public Services Authority ASEP (Autoridad de Servicios Publicos) showed interest in the construction of a hydroelectric facility in the area, to generate electricity for the central provinces.

The government has declared Rio Cobre and Los Estrechos a “hydrological reserve and community heritage.

The peasants are also disputing the environmental impact studies carried out by the Spanish companies AENOR and Inclam, because they did not take into account the concerns of the inhabitants.

The project is the property of the 1994 Popular Party presidential candidate , Eduardo Vallarino.