Chixoy Dam, Guatemala

For more than twenty years, communities affected by the Chixoy Dam have demanded reparations for the damages caused by the project, which was built during Guatemala’s most repressive military dictatorship. The project, financed by the World Bank and the Inter–American Development Bank, was built on the Chixoy River in the early 1980s and forcibly displaced more than 3,500 Maya community members. More than 6,000 families living in the area also suffered loss of land and livelihoods. When community members opposed relocation and sought better compensation, they were massacred, tortured and kidnapped. For years survivors have lived in extreme poverty but never given up their call for justice.

In September 2004, 3000 community members held a peaceful protest at the dam site. The protest ended after two days with a signed agreement between the government and community leaders to convene a commission to verify damages sustained by the community, with the aim of negotiating an agreement for reparations for the damages suffered. The Commission is comprised of representatives of the Guatemalan government, the World Bank, and the Inter–American Development Bank, and is facilitated by a representative of the Organization of American States. The first official meeting of the Commission took place on December 13, 2005.

Communities are hopeful that the negotiations process will lead to a successful resolution which includes the restoration of their productive land; access to potable water and electricity; economic development; education and social programs; and reconciliation and reparation with respect to the violence that accompanied the construction of the dam.

International Rivers and the Environmental Defender Law Center worked to engage the US law firm Holland and Knight to represent the communities at the negotiations table. We continue to monitor the negotiations process and to support communities in all possible ways so that they can one day obtain the reparations they deserve.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

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CONTACT US:

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