Mexico: After 9 years of struggle, peasants triumph over ‘La Parota’ hydroelectric dam

Since 2003, when the Federal Commission for Electricity (CFE) undertook preparatory steps in the construction of the hydroelectric dam ‘La Parota’ in the territory of 35 peasant communities in Guerrero, 25,000 inhabitants have faced displacement and loss of livelihoods.

Under the Accords, signed in August 2012, the state will not approve La Parota dam if the affected communities do not accept it, if they are not justly compensated, or if it will impact the environment. The Governor committed to securing a dialogue between CECOP and the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, to ensure a commitment to the ruling from the federal government.

The Accords also guarantee that the state of Guerrero will cease the repression of the peasant movement, respect the legal rulings that were issued in favor of the CECOP and support peasant efforts to restore the social fabric that has been broken as a result of the violent repression of the past nine years.

FIAN International has supported the peasant’s struggle since 2004. In 2004 and 2005, FIAN International intervened with two urgent actions when the resisting peasants, in their struggle to defend their land rights against the construction of the hydroelectric dam, were met with violence and repression.  In 2008, FIAN International intervened again with an Amicus Curiae in support of a constitutional complaint by the affected communities, in which it argued the lack of consultation of the affected people and an inadequate environmental evaluation for the construction of the dam.

FIAN International welcomes the Cacahuatepec Accords and will closely monitor government compliance with its stipulations and further steps towards the definitive cancellation of the hydroelectric project.