Council on Hemispheric Affairs

For over four years the tiny Guatemalan hamlet of Santa Cruz Barillas, Huehuetenango has struggled to halt the construction of hydroelectric projects that would negatively impact their community. Over the course of multiple administrations, the government of the Central American country has historically sided with large foreign corporations, citing major economic benefits as a consequence. However,  the companies have neglected to respect the community’s right to free, prior and informed consent on the plausible impact of the hydroelectric project. In response, the indigenous community of Barillas rose up in protest, escalating on the occasion when towns people took control of a military outpost on May 1st. Consequently, Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina declared that the area would be operating under a “state of siege” for thirty days.

The Conflict Begins

Conflict between a number of Hydroelectric companies and communities of the surrounding region began in 2007, when a different hydroelectric company, Hidralia Energía—a Spanish Corporation—attempted to initiate a project. As a response, 47,000 community members as well as their Community Development Council (COCODE)  arose and overwhelmingly voted in opposition to mining activities and other mega projects, such as the hydroelectric plant, in the area, maintaining that it will have harmful consequences on the Cambalan river ecosystem.[1][2] However, these concerns are not only limited to ecological impacts; Cambalan River is the site of enormous cultural importance as well.  The river’s three central waterfalls serve as a communal bathing center, as a source of irrigation affect local terrain, for recreational use, and is especially important as a sacred ceremonial site. Should an energy company build a dam on the Cambalan river, the location for the Maya Q’anjob’al sacred rituals would be destroyed for future generations.[3] At that time, community leaders made it clear that they would not sit by as a foreign company damaged this indispensable river.

Source: Life in small bites environment blog

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