In Mariana (MG), the first day of the People affected by dams Meeting denounces Vale’s inaction in the territories

Photo: MAB communication

As part of the Fighting for rights Days “Vale destroys, the people build”, began this Sunday (3) the affected’s Meeting in the city of Mariana, Minas Gerais. The event is attended by different communities of the Doce River and Paraopeba basins in order to talk about situation of the population affected by the crimes in the state.

Next Tuesday (5), it will be four years that the Fundão dam collapsed. In memory of the crime, the three days event aims to denunciate the inaction of Vale, Samarco and BHP Biliton and to lead the fight for the coming months.

At the beginning of the plenary session, Camila Brito, from the MAB coordination, organized a group activity. The attenders gave a picture of Brazil, to understand the political situation, using their own key words. “Worse health-care, violence against women, ecological damages, intimidations, threats and rights violations” were some of the points raised.

Renova Foundation in Doce River

According to data submitted by the MAB activist Guilherme Camponez, only 48% of the 54 000 registration requests for compensation in the Doce River basin were approved.

Camponez warns how Renova Foundation’s cooptation works, targeting small local affected people projects. He highlights: “The Renova Foundation, created to repair the crime, needs 2 billions annual just to run. There are more than 500 employees. And with all of that money and “soldiers”, they are not able to do anything? ”Says the MAB militant.

Photo: MAB communication

The rebuilding promise of Bento Rodrigues community is still ongoing, now the deadline is 2020. “I don’t trust Renova. There are no new houses built in collective resettlement. They built and renovated few houses but it was on the toxic mud, ”says Guilherme Camponez.   

In Brumadinho, same situation

“It is quite the same situation in both basins. The company came here only to flout our rights. They kill the river, they kill people and they think everything is ok” says one of Brumadinho’s victims, who doesn’t want to be identified.

Photo: MAB communication

MAB activist, Ana Galeb stressed the importance of technical advice in the region for a fair and full compensation process. She provides an overview of how the legal sphere works so the company fulfills its duty.

“We are concerned about this rainy season in Brumadinho. The muddy water is currently invading again the families homes in the central area of the city,” says Miqueias Ribeiro, from the MAB coordination.

Tradução Florence Poznanski e Guillaume Ozouf