Guatemala: hiperdam threatens living space of guatemaltecos

In the so-called “developing countries” dams are still considered to be a stimulation for economic boom. Their negative effects arent considered –or even more- are hidden by the beneficiaries. Almost every dam-project so far has been accompanied by the resistance of their detractors. The relation between dams, the privatization of water, infrastructure, rivers, the electronic sector and the interests of the industry in the construction, the commercialization and transport is clear every time.

The PPP is an infrastructureplan that was initiated by the former mexican president Vincente Fox (2000-2006). It envisions the comercial development of central america to push and strengthen the economy in the areas traffic, toursim and education. All states that lie between Puebla and Panamá (Mexico, Guatemala, Belice, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica) confirmed their participation during a meeting in San Salvador in 2001. Along with the PPP comes the Free Trade Agreement between North America and Central America (CAFTA), that became effective in 2003.
Officially there are eight different objectives within the PPP, among them the extension of telecommunication, the facilitation of trade and the extension of the energynet. Furthermore, there are supposed to be some plans that are not mentioned in official documents to avoid protests. These would be the production of oil, the construction of maquiladoras (low-wage fabrics) and the construction of 100 dams, that are seen as base for economic development.

95% of the investigations will be for the building of streets, ports, airports an the extension of telecommunication and electricity wires. This infrastructure will be necessary to feed-in the companies that will settle down with energy and also to ensure the large export of the extracted materials. SIEPAC (System of electrical Interconnection for Central America), the company that will supply the electricity for the companies that will settle down, already built new electrification buildings to fulfill this task.
Among others, the construction of the megahighway “Franja Transversal del Norte” is planned. Its lane shall have a width of 25 meters and it shall stretch along the areas in the northern states of Guatemala where there is the highest ocurrence of natural ressources. The expenses for the construction will probably be around 400 million USD.

The area around Ixcán, in the west of of Guatemala, seems to be ideal for the explotation of raw material and the production of energy. It’s rich in biodiversity and natural ressources, so that not only a megahidroelectric is planned, but also the exploitation of petroleum and gold.
In the 60s, people from all over Guatemala came to this region to get a piece of land. About 10 years later, the first studies for the dam have been carried out, but have been abandoned 12 years later, because of the war. Also, studies about extraction oil have been done, but without success.
Ixcán is one of the regions in Guatemala that has been hit worst during the war in the 80s. At the same time, these circumstances resulted in civil resistance that still builds the base of the communal organization. Despite of the Peace Contract (1996), the communities still have to fight for their land, all over the country, a lot of it isn’t legalized yet.

In 2005 and 2006 the National Institute for Electrification (INDE) carried out large studies about the region Ixcán. Shortly after, its president Carlos Colom confirmed high interest of guatemaltec and foreign companies in the construction of Xalalá, before the affected people even knew about it. A dam of 290m hight above the sea level is planned that will produce 390MW energy and will flood an area of 32km². Teh estimated costs for its construction are around 300 million USD. The guatemaltec bank of development (BID) already assured to the government full financial help. In the moment, Guatemala is looking for a private investor that will implement both the studies of feasibility as well as the effects of the dam on the environment and the building works. Not only Xalalá, but also other power stations and projects to exploit oil are planned. They are promoted with the construction of new highways, work, energy, the extraction of raw material and “development”.

At the “Forum of Latinamerican leadership” that was held on 28th of March, 2006 in New Orleans/USA, the 50 largest projects in Latin America have been presented. Among them also the Xalalá-dam whose annual net profit has been estimated at around 100 million USD to 150 million USD. During the government of President Arzú (1996-2000) a law has been enacted that lowered the taxes that a company pays from their profits to Guatemala from 6% to 1%. Xalalá seems to be a good bargain for the company that finally implements the construction.

Apart from these positive, financial effects that the investor will have from the building of the dam, there are also the negative impacts on nature and the population of the concerned area. A stagnated lake can produce marsh gas and reduce the variety of fish. The impacts can be felt even hundreds of kilometers down the river. Apart from the extinction of species and the flloding of the area, also the habitants will be displaced. Likely, all 75,000 inhabitants of the municipality Ixcán will be affected somehow in a negative way. According to studies from the World Commission of Dams (WCD) that consists of advocates, same as of antagonists of dams and that has already examined 100 dams worldwide, the resettlement of the population mostly leads to remarkable worse living conditions.

After the intentions within the Plan Puebla-Panamá became known, there is resistance from national and international social groups. Indigenous and peasant organisations, human rights groups and NGOs criticise the projects heavily. Therefore, the government accuse them of being against economic development. Because Xalalá is supposed to be the largest water-power plant in Guatemala. Advocates say, that the first ones that willl take advantage from the project will be the local population. But by promises of potable water and electricity, these, themselves are reminded of the happenings around the construction of the dam Chixoy.
This one has been planned and build during the military regime in the years 1980 by the companies Lahmeyer International (Germany), Motor Columbus (Switzerland), International Engineering (USA), und Hochtief (Germany). They made the same promises to the local people. But as soon as the population resisted to leave their land, they have been tortured and murdered by the military, witnessed by the named companies. During the so-called “Chixoy-massacre”, 400 Achí-Mayas lost their lives. Still today, the survivors fight for the promised compensations like the construction of new streets, electricity and money. (Apart from that, this dam still is recognized as economic disaster for it costs more money than it produces.)

Likewise, the basic means of existence of the habitants in the Ixcán-region is in danger. In a communal vote on 20th of April 2007 they confirmed their rejection of the Xalalá-dam and the exploitation of petroleum in their area: 93% of the 19.000 electors voted against these projects. But the results didnt seem to interest anyone apart from the affected. With the presence of (inter)national observers the transparence, legitimacy and democratic course of events have been guaranteed. All day long, the communal radio informed about the vote. But the only media feedback in other regions was a tiny article without any basic information some days later in the “Prensa Libre” (guatemaltec daily paper).

But this is not surprisingly considering the fact, that the existence of the inhabitants in this region has already been negated in public by two different politicians: On October, 29th, 2005 the representative Maynor López of the Gran Alianza Nacional (GANA) said: “Where we will build the dam, there is only the jungle, inhabited by some wild animals…We hope, that when the construction starts that no NGO comes to save the animals.”
And on 5th of May, 2006, the former President of Guatemala, Oscar Bérger (2004-2008) has been cited in the Prensa Libre, saying that Xalalá would be a sparsely inhabited area. But the newspaper corrected him, saying that, in fact, 29 communities will be directly affected by the flooding.

The passing of the interests of the population in the Ixcán and the missing information about projects, that are already running, that isn’t given to them, in fact isn’t according to Convent 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO). This convent was enacted in 1996 and has been elongated in 2006 for another 10 years. It includes the protection of indigenous people and their right to decide about their land. But the practical realization often isn’t considered and the juridical obligation of votes is negated on the regional level to avoid the convent.

“Instead of a dam, we rather need better houses and potable water” an inhabitant of Xalalá complains. Between the communities of Margaritas Copón and Chactelá there are some signs posted saying: “For the life of the flora and fauna, against the dam. We are decidedly against the construction of the hydroelectric. Rivers are for life, not for dams.”
But the Project continues, with more and more frequency, helicopters fly above the region and unknown people with guns inspect the area and threaten the people. They reported these happenings to the local authorities, but nothing has been done about it.

The exact plan of the dam Xalalá is supposed to be ready by june, as soon as an investor is found. At the end of 2008, the construction is supposed to start. But what will happen, if the habitants refuse to leave their land?