23.01.2008
People affected by the Madeira Complex demand respect of their rights
Government and companies participate in the assembly of riverine people

Yesterday 22/01, during the popular assembly of dam affected people from the State of Rondônia, representatives from Eletronorte, the Agrarian Development Ministry (MDA), the Special Secretariat on Fisheries (SEAP) and representatives of federal deputies, participated to a round table to discuss the problems caused by the construction of the Hydroelectric Complex of Madeira.

The Mesa construction consortium which was also present declared it was ready to discuss with the riverine population. The main conflict point between the companies and the Movement of Dam Affected People (MAB) is the issue of the negotiations with riverine families. MAB wants collective and not individual negotiations as the consortium insists on doing. According to Josivaldo Alvez from MAB “Individual negotiations allow the consortium to give compensation to whom they want and as much as they want and therefore creating conflicts between the riverine people”.

Josivaldo Alves suggested that this assembly was a success with the presence of 600 affected people who “got out of there knowing exactly what the Madeira Complex is and which are the interests behind it”. Other entities participated in the event like the Institute Madeira Vivo and social pastoral commissions.

The riverine people presented to the authorities and companies their demands and secured a follow up assembly for the 10^th of March.

Other assemblies

This week the people affected by the Estreito dam also held an assembly and next Monday it is the people affected by the Tucuruí dam who are meeting with the authorities to demand respect of their rights.