29.05.2009
Inertia of Engevix causes revolt in the region of the Monjolinho Dam
Federal Regional Tribunal decides to stop the reservoir’s filling up process  

Closing the floodgates of the Hydroelectric Plant of Monjolinho without having resolved the problems of the affected families, is building up tension and misunderstanding between the local indigenous populations, small farmers and the Federal Public Ministry.

Last week, May 22, in an audience in the Federal Regional Tribunal of the 4^th Region in Porto Alegre, the Appeals Court Judge Carlos Eduardo Flores Lenz declared that filling up the reservoir should pause immediately, “to avoid grave consequences to the indigenous community, due to the fact that it will hinder the evaluation and quantification of the impacts in their land, invalidating, by consequence, the implementation of the mitigation and compensation measures by the entrepreneur”.

The Monjolinho dam, property of Engevix, closed the floodgates on May 14, and contrary to the claims of the company, the rights of farmers and local indigenous people are violated. Bear in mind that Engevix is the same company that clearly lied in the Environmental Impact Study and Report for the construction of the hydroelectric dam of Barra Grande.

The process is ongoing in the Tribunal and the decision of the Judge Carlos Eduardo Flores Lenz alleges that “allowing the complete filling up of the reservoir will be fatal for the indigenous communities and, even if, at the end of the action the source of the allegations of the ministerial organ is confirmed, the damage will have already occurred”.

Leaders of the Movement of Dam Affected People affirm that there is great unease amongst the affected indigenous people and that if the owners of the dam do not take the necessary measures immediately, it is probable that there will be conflicts in the region. Abílio Pendere Casemiro, leader of the Kaigang indigenous ethnicity in the affected region speaks of imminent revolt of his people: ”we always lived in this place, this land is ours and we have constructed our life here! We will not allow these white people of the company to destroy our history, our life, our people with all this water of the dam. Many people are revolted with this disrespect to our culture, customs and traditions”.