Background:

 In the name of the Initiative for "Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America" (IIRSA), which was initiated by 12 governments in Brazil, 14 large scale hydroelectric projects (400 MW up to 1650 MW) as well as 28 small scale projects (< 400 MW) are planned all over Peru to use the giant water resources (further information: www.internationalrivers.org/en/latin-america/iirsa). Most of the projects / plans were established without consulting the affected population, without Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) or Social Impact Assessment (SIA). Furthermore those projects will in most of the cases not be beneficial for the Peruvian population as the generated electricity will be sold abroad (for a fixed price over 30 yrs) and the consequences (loss of resources, of rainforest, living space, irreversible environmental damages, water deficiency ...) have to be beared by the local people (source: http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/2010-6-17/outrage-over-peru-brazil-energy-agreement).

--> Please check also the petition: Hydroelectric plants threaten environment and livelihoods of thousands!

(http://environment.change.org/petitions/view/peru_hydroelectric_plants_threaten_environment_and_livelihoods_of_thousands)

The case Paquitzapango

One of those projects is the hydroelectric plant of Paquitzapango and Mantaro in the province of Junin, Peru.The Paquitzapango project consists of a hydroelectric plant (2000 MW) and an irrigation scheme. The 4,000 Million US Dollar project will be build by  Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S/A (Eletrobrás) / Paquitzapango Energía S.A.C ( source: www.dams-info.org/en/dams/view/paquitzapango/).

The dam and the 725 km² big artificial lake will cause huge ecological damage to the entire Amazonian fish population and force about 10 000 indigenous people to move from their territories (source: www.larepublica.pe/pagina_impreso.php?pub=domingo&anho=2010&mes=09&dia=05&pid=3&sec=1558&pag=12).

As it is one of the five hydroelectric projects prioritized in the energy integration agreements between Brazil and Peru the energy has to be transmitted through 1500 km long overground cable, which will pass and therefore affect the Otishi National Park irreversible.

Biologists are very concerned of the direct effect on the ecology of the Ene River, the Amazon as well as the Otishi National Park. The Ene is a vital area for reproduction of the Amazonian fishes as the biologist Ernesto Ráez indicates (source: www.larepublica.pe/archive/all/domingo/20100905/13/pagina/1558). If it will be disturbed there will be negative affects for the whole Amazonian ecology and the livelihood of tribes further down the river which depend on fish for food.    

As it was the case with the Majes Sigua II/Angostura hydro electric project there were no consultations with the affected population although the project will take place in the autonomous territories of the asháninka tribe. The government gave at 3rd of December 2008 without permission licenses for feasibility studies to the construction companies and extended it recently (report in Spanish: www.dar.org.pe/reportes/pdf/cidh2010.pdf)

This is a violation against the Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the article 19 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.  

Several local indigenous organizations, such as the Coordinating Committee of the Ashaninka of the Ene River (CARE) and the regional indigenous organization AIDESEP, are demanding that true consultations with the indigenous people occur in accordance with ILO Article 169, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Please help the indigenous communities to get heard by the government and to stop the destruction of the rainforest and their livelihood.

Support their manifest which was articulated in April 2009 (www.internationalrivers.org/en/latin-america/peru/statement-ashaninka-communities).

Clip in english and spanish: http://ashanincare.org/index.htm

The petition is in spanish and english!