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 Nicolasa 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. CHIP News Santiago, March 12, 2001
Cardinal To Assess Ralco Conflict
Source: CHIP News
Last week a group of 30 protestors, led by the sisters Berta and Nicolasa 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 lawsuit 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 kilometres 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 kilometres.
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.
