MAB protests against the dams on the Tapajós river

About 100 people organized in the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) attended the Seminar on Tapajós dams in the city of Itaituba, west of Pará. Among the participants residents of threatened communities, representatives of fishermen, women’s movement and the Rural Workers Union City Trairão, the Rural Workers Union of Itaituba, the Pastoral Land Commission, the Ministry of Youth, in addition to members of the indigenous people Munduruku.

The participants discussed the false promises announced around the possible construction of five dams on the Tapajós and Jamanxim, including hydroelectric plants, which will flood an area hugher than the size of the city of São Paulo. Those present reaffirmed their commitment to the preservation of the nature, maintaining the livelihoods of coastal communities, the right of indigenous peoples and respect for their sacred sites that may disappear if the works are made.

“MAB is against the construction of dams in the Tapajós basin because besides causing immense environmental destruction and incalculable harm to indigenous peoples, they do not serve the Brazilian people but the large construction companies “said Thiago Alves, member of MAB. He also emphasized that “the Tapajós hydroelectric plants are part of a bigger project, including ports, waterways, and especially the advancement of soybeans in the region.”

To Odair José Matos Pereira, president of the threatened community Pimental and militant of MAB “It is important to resist the dams constructions because it is necessary to preserve our history, our way of riverside life, the tranquility in which we live, everything that these works will destroy. It is necessary to strengthen the organization and seek another development.” “Previous studies ignore a lot of people who depend for their survival on the river and land. They will lose everything in case of construction” said.

The participants made an intervention in the City Council of Itaituba in order to disclose the discussions. After much pressure against the officers who wanted to hinder access, the militants denounced the violations of human rights by companies who construct dams, speak in defense of traditional communities and indigenous peoples and reaffirm to exercise the right to say NO for dams and look for a development model without dams.

Juarez Saw, chief Sawre Muy Bu Village, spoke on behalf of the people Munduruku “from high to low Tapajós our people do not want dams and are willing to go to war to defend our territory.”

For Cleidiane Santos, national coordination of MAB, it was an important moment of mobilization and struggle against these major projects in the region. “We want to bring together people from the countryside and the city throughout the region to collectively build resistance and an alternative to this development that comes with many promises and in the end leaves only a trail of destruction for a lot and wealth for the few. Today was just another step in the struggle that grow every day”.

PHOTOS: Thais Iervolino