MAB and trade unions occupy the city hall, city council and highway at Tucuruí

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After  25 years of the building of the dam, the region stills struggles for schools, health and many promised rights  

Photo: Wellington Hugles

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This Tuesday (2nd of July), about 1000 affected by the dam of Tucuruí and organized workers in trade unions of the region occupied the city hall and city council of Tucuruí, at the state of Pará.

The protesters also promised to block once again the BR 422 highway, which gives access to the dam, to block the passing of the buses controlled by the Viação Tucuruí company.

The first intention was to occupy only the city council, but the military police intervened and only 200 people could pass through the police blocking. “The police controls the city council, but informed us, that they will only remove someone by the request for repossession,” informed MAB’s coordinator, Euvanice by telephone, she was at the moment inside the city council.

The following organizations are present: MAB, Municipal Workers Trade Union of Tucuruí – SINSMUT, Public Educational Workers Trade Unions of Pará.

The agendas demanded by the organizations are: 1) The reduction of the collective transport fare from R$2,25 to R$2,00; 2) the withdrawal of the draft law written by Mayor Sancler Ferreira, rising from 8% to 11% the pension discount (for Municipal workers of Tucuruí) 3) the return of 6 months of maternity license for the municipal public workers; 4) paving of secondary roads in the settlements of the municipality; 5) establishment of schools in rural areas (there are only two schools to serve approximately 4000 families), 6) establishment of health centres in rural areas (there is none in the countryside)

City Hall

Around 800 protesters were stopped by the police at the entrance of the City Council they were trying to occupy the City Council. They then occupied the City Hall and demand the presence of the major Sancler Ferreira as condition to leave the City Hall.

“We are not going to leave without a meeting with the major. At the dry season which is now in July, our children cannot pass through the river to go to school, how can they let this happen? They have to build more schools, we cannot have only two schools to attend the whole rural area,” pointed the people’s affected by dams coordinator, Roquevan.

The protesters had already tried to talk with the major before, but were received by the vice-major, who affirmed to be incompetent to analyze the demands.

People Affected by Dams will be received in Brasília

The Eletronorte compromised to appoint a meeting with five representants of the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) in Brasília with the governments sectors involved.

They demand the accomplishment of the Development Plan for the region, agreed with Eletronorte  since 2005, but until today it has not come out of the paper. They also demand the construction of popular houses, projects to develop the fishing, regularization of lands, among other demands.

“The Tucuruí Hydroelectric Plant was built 25 years ago and has enormously benefit the electro-intensive companies (usually these companies exploits mineral and uses a lot of electricity for that and the companies export companies without paying any tax) and a huge social debt to those affected,” explained Rogério, MAB’s national coordinator.

During the years of 1984 to 2004 when the electricity of Tucuruí was rehired, the generation cost for residences was 24 dollars. However, Eletronorte sold to subsidiaries and ALCOA and ALBRÁS the amount of $ 16 per MW.
“Just last year, the county received Tucuruí 12 million in “royalties” of the plant, while the state of Pará approximately 20 million. Meanwhile, those affected do not have a health clinic, only two schools and most families do not have electricity, ” compared Rogério