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dam-l VIOLENCE WORSENS RALCO SITUATION
>
>August 7, 1998
To: irn-biobio@igc.org
X-Sender: aleta@pop.igc.apc.org
>SOURCE: EL MERCURIO
>SOURCE: LA TERCERA
> -- VIOLENCE WORSENS RALCO SITUATION. The conflict
>over Endesa's controversial Ralco hydroelectric project worsened
>Thursday as members of Mapuche organizations reportedly
>attacked acting Planning Minister Antonio Lara and members of
>the Pehuenche committee who support the project at the offices of
>the National Indigenous Development Board (Conadi) in Santiago.
> Minister Lara had to leave a press conference in haste and
>shut himself in an office for over an hour because some Mapuche
>and ecologists began to throw tea cups and saucers.
> While Conadi personnel called the police, the eight
>indigenous Conadi board members met to seek a solution to this
>increasingly tense situation. They will release a proposal today,
>aiming to improve relations between the government and
>indigenous groups.
> Conadi was supposed to declare Friday whether it recognizes
>the land contracts signed between Endesa and 84 Pehuenche
>families. The atmosphere, however, turned from unstable to
>chaotic Wednesday when President Frei, keen to see approval for
>the project, requested the resignation of Conadi Director Domingo
>Namuncura. Conadi has since postponed the decision for 15 days.
> President Frei defended his actions yesterday, saying the
>government always tries to follow the law and protect the
>interests of the citizenry. Namuncura was obviously not in
>agreement with government thinking, which was why his
>resignation was requested, Frei said.
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