Indigenous groups in Costa Rica have reaffirmed their opposition to El Diquis, a hydro-electric project the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) plans to build in the southern province of Puntarenas. The government of Costa Rica recently declared the project a “National interest”.
Ivannia Villalobos explains on her blog that, while El Diquís “was presented publicly by the ICE about two years ago, it’s in fact another version of the so-called ‘Boruca Hydroelectric Project’ which was first proposed in the early 70’s.”
As it’s currently proposed, El Diquis would flood the Traditional Lands of the Terraba and Chinakicha Nations. Forcing their displacement, the project would also compromise and infringe upon both Peoples’ beliefs and cultures. Over 200 historical sites; including Burial Grounds, Sacred Sites, and Ancient Ruins—would all be destroyed by the flood.
The dam would have a further, indirect effect on the Curre, Boruca, Guaymi, Bribi, Ujarras, Cabagra and Salitre Peoples; who together represent nearly one half of Costa Rica’s indigenous population.
Under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and ILO Convention 169 – both of which the government of Costa Rica signed in good faith – El Diquis is completely illegal. The government didn’t even so much as consult the Indigenous Nations, which they should have done before even considering the project a possibility.
According to Manuel Villanueva, a representative from the Association for the Defense of the Indigenous Rights of the Terraba, instead they “subjected the community to a propaganda campaign specifically meant to deceive them, which the ICE then referred to as formal consultations.”
In response to all of this, Manuel and the other representatives announced their intentions to struggle for their lands and cultures using every legal avenue possible.
“We are defending ourselves and we don’t want anyone to bother us or destroy our natural resources. We will be firm and we will defend our territories, not what the government says,” stressed Vinicio Navas, a representative from the Association for the Defense of the Residents of the Indigenous Culture of Terraba.
They are also calling on the government to respect the Rights and Territories of the Traditional Peoples in Costa Rica.
As of February 21, several other campesino, indigenous, and environmental groups were expected to announce their support – for what may very well come to be a National Movement for Indigenous Rights.
Indigenous Peoples are putting their bodies on the line and it's our responsibility to make sure you know why. That takes time, expertise and resources - and we're up against a constant tide of misinformation and distorted coverage. By supporting IC you're empowering the kind of journalism we need, at the moment we need it most.
