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DAM-L Cardinal To Assess Ralco Conflict (fwd)



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Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 16:51:11 -0800 (PST)
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Subject: Cardinal To Assess Ralco Conflict
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Santiago, March 12, 2001
Source: CHIP News

CARDINAL TO ASSESS RALCO CONFLICT

A group of Mapuche protestors have demanded that the nation's newly invested
cardinal, Monsignor Francisco Javier Errazuriz, review the case of the Ralco
dam, a hydroelectric project being constructed in south-central Region VIII
that will flood land where indigenous people have lived for years.

Last week a group of 30 protestors, led by the sisters Berta and Nicloasa
Quintreman, protested on the front yard of Errazuriz's house, demanding an
audience with the country's "highest moral authority," and would not leave
until Monsignor Sergio Valech, the auxiliary bishop of Santiago, agreed to
pass their message on to the cardinal.

The sisters are in Santiago awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court on a
law suit in which they are demanding that construction work on the
controversial dam be halted.  The dam is now over 35 percent compete, but
the sisters, who have steadfastly refused to move from their land, are
requesting the Supreme Court give greater weight to the Indigenous Law than
the Electricity Law.

This key decision will determine whether the nation's economic development
is allowed to take precedence over the rights of the country's indigenous
population, contrary to the law that prohibits the taking of land from
indigenous communities without their consent.

Unsatisfied with not being able to speak directly with the cardinal, who is
currently in spiritual retreat, the Pehuenches (Mapuches living in the
interior of south-central Chile) were even less satisfied after their
meeting with Valech.

According to Nicolasa Quintreman, the bishop, who promised to pass their
message on to the cardinal, treated them "like fools and never understood
our vision of Mother Earth, despite our clear explanation to him."

"If they really believe in the God who gives us light, they will decide in
favor of us.  But we want that to be soon," Nicolasa Quintreman said.

In recent weeks, indigenous groups have increased their protests against the
dam, as construction work is now affecting their cemeteries, which their
culture forbids them to move and which they refuse to see buried under vast
quantities of water.

A hearing in the case was suspended last week "for reasons of time,"
according to Supreme Court officials.  The lawyer for the families, Roberto
Celdon, was surprised by this announcement, saying, "The general rule
indicates that if there are no procedures pending, delicate cases are dealt
with in the working day.  But here, there are no procedural reasons to
suspend it."

Meanwhile, over the weekend Mapuches from coastal communities in Region VIII
completed their 220 kilometer march from Tirua to the region's capital,
Concepcion.  The march, which attracted fewer supporters than originally
expected, was timed to coincide with the march by indigenous groups and
Zapatistas rebels in Mexico, which reached that country's capital Sunday
after covering 11,000 kilometers.

The Mapuches held the march to raise awareness of the plight of their
communities, many of which live in poverty on limited and poor quality land.
On arrival in Concepcion, leaders discussed their proposals and views with
local community groups.


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