Protest against the criminal transnationals gathers 2 thousand people in SP

This Wednesday afternoon (4th September), about 2 thousand people from the Movement of People affected by Dams (MAB) and the youth from Levante Popular da Juventude made a manifestation in front of the companies Siemens and Alstom, at Marginal Tietê in the city of São Paulo.

Denounces indicate this companies as involved in a corruption scheme to fraud biddings, reforms and equipment supplies for the metro e train system in São Paulo.

The companies combined the results of the disputes and through the intermediation of politicians from PSDB (right wing), they increased the price of those services, raising the State spending to launder money that was transferred to the so called “toucans” or members of the political partyPSDB.

 “The companies involved in this corrupting scheme have names as Alstom and Siemens. The diverted public resources should be focused on improving public transport” said Robson Formica, leader of MAB.

Said Thiago Pará Wender, member of Levante Popular da Juventude, “We must make a reckoning with corrupting companies, which are until now invisible in the scandals. Siemens and Alstom must be investigated and punished, such as the politicians of PSDB. We can not allow the people suffer every day from a lack of quality and options of public transport system, while foreign firms divert resources”.

The protesters staged a march through the Marginal Tietê and performed interventions in front of the headquarters. They sang protest songs and painted graffiti in which they condemned the companies.

The youth renamed the street “Werner Siemens” to “January 12, 2007”, date of the collapse of the construction site of the Yellow Line of the São Paulo Metro, which left dozens injured. In front of the headquarters of Siemens there was also a tribute to the seven people killed in the collapse. The name of each was greeted by protesters. Seven crosses were placed in front of the German company.

“These companies were responsible for the works on the Yellow Line and have guilt in the death of these workers. They are symbols of the lack of respect for the Brazilian people and must pay tribute. While there is no justice, there will be popular pressure” promised Pará.

Energy Cartel

MAB reported that the energy companies Alstom and Siemens are also present in the works of construction of dams, especially in the supply of equipment and turbines. A letter from a former executive of the multinational Siemens, that led investigations into irregularities committed by the company in the metro system, cites illegal practices in the energy sector.

Investigations of violations of competition in the energy sector are being conducted by Cade (Administrative Council for Economic Defense). Alstom, for example, provides turbines for Belo Monte and signed with Norte Energia a contract worth R$ 3.5 billion. The company already supplied more than 100 turbines and generators for hydroelectric plants in Brazil.

Given this fact, Formica warned that “these companies are violating the rights of affected people,” and that we will “denounce and charge these companies for what they caused to this population. They never show interest or engagement in solving the Brazilian people’s problems”.