UN Expert Denounces Hydrolectric Dam

James Anaya, the new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, released a statement on August 8 denouncing the abuses of the indigenous Ngöbe people of Charco la Pava, Panama, in connection with the building of hydroelectric dam. 
 
Anaya writes that the Ngöbe are suffering abuses "such as arbitrary displacement from their lands, loss of housing and destruction of agricultural crops, and other abuses such as the excessive use of force and detaining of members of the community that have opposed the construction of the hydroelectric project, including women and children. Likewise, I express profound concern that the situation is apparently deteriorating and, given the presence of an armed police force in the area, the situation could worsen and place the lives and physical integrity of the members of the Charco la Pava community at risk. Also, I have received information that the company is moving forward without the control or supervision of government authorities." Anaya calls on the government of Panama and the energy company building the dam, AES, to take action to protect the Ngöbe, citing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
 
Cultural Survival's own efforts to stop the dam have moved forward significantly, as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has agreed to hear the petition we submitted. The government of Panama sent the commission its response to the petition, but its challenge to the petition was based on incomplete or inaccurate information. Last week we submitted a second document, pointing out the omissions and correcting the inaccuracies. In the meantime, dam construction continues unabated, and the government of Panama has yet to answer Anaya's letter of concern.