La Parota Dam, Mexico

In 2003, the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission proposed the construction of La Parota Dam in the State of Guerrero. The 900 MW dam on the Papagayo River would flood close to 17,000 hectares of land and displace more than 25,000 people. An additional 75,000 people are expected to be affected by changes to the river ecosystem downstream of the dam. Major losses in fisheries could occur all the way downstream of the dam until the river’s delta at the Pacific Ocean.

In 2004 affected communities created the Council of Communal Land Owners and Communities Against Construction of La Parota Dam (CECOP). They joined forces with MAPDER – the Mexican Movement of Dam–Affected People – and have held numerous protests and other activities to register their opposition to the dam. Several protests have been met with violent police repression, which has resulted in two deaths and violated the rights of affected communities.

The Federal Electricity Commission is trying to obtain project approval by holding false consultations and preventing attendance by those opposed to the dam. In January of 2006, a Mexican court declared that some of the consultation meetings held by the Federal Electricity Commission were invalid.

The project is estimated to cost more than US$1 billion and construction companies from several countries have shown an interest in the project, including Mexican construction company ICA owned by magnate Carlos Slim, ranked the world’s richest man by Fortune magazine. The Mexican government hopes to commence construction as soon as possible, but whether they can obtain the necessary approvals and financing remains to be seen.

International Rivers is working with local organizations to support their campaign to stop the dam. We are helping to call international attention to human rights violations taking place, and the illegal consultation process associated with this project.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

Temporary Injunction Halts Mexico’s La Parota Dam

Carta al Presidente Fox

Our Land is Not for Sale

Third National Encounter of Dam-Affected People and In Defense Of Rivers - Mexico City

NGOs Express Deep Concerns for Human Rights Violations in Guerrero State

CONTACT US:

Monti Aguirre
monti [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+1 510 848 1155