Resistance
From the legal point of view the project is completely unconstitutional. Firstly the contract to sell electricity was signed by the Venezuelan and Brasilian governments without approval of the Venezuelan Congress. Secondly any construction through the Imataca forest reserve is illegal until resolution of the decree 1.850 (see above). Organisations and lawyers supporting the cause, are using these issues to pressurise the government. However with big national and international economic interests supporting the line, the cases remain 'Pending'.
The Pemon are aware that the power line will signify the beginning of the end for their people and the environment. Some of the affected communities feel they have been deceived by their leaders, who have been pressurised into signing accords with the government to let the line pass peaceably. However resistance within the communities is growing. The State agencies and private enterprises continue to ignore the plea of the Pemon for discussions and revaluation of the project. With the line now nearing completion, the Pemon have realized that it is too late for negotiations. They have formed a courageous collective resistance to defend the environment and their cultural survival.
Since last year, members of several Pemon
communities have been systematically toppling
electricity pylons in an attempt to impede the
conclusion of the line. They feel that now, only
through such action the Venezuelan Government
and the International Community might hear their
protest. Many deadlines for completion of the
project have passed, accelerating costs for the
Venezuelan Government and Multi-nationals
involved. Brasil, anxious for its discount electricity
is increasing the political pressure on its neighbour. There remains a 52 km stretch of
towers to be constructed through a region of flood plains, the location of Pemon villages
resisting the project. When the rains starts in May, construction work will have to be
postponed until the beginning of the dry season.
Work has intensified in an effort to complete the line within the next two months. Originally infrastructure transport was via helicopters in an attempt to reduce possible environmental impact during construction of the line. However with the rains fast approaching, all means available are being used to raise the towers. Access roads are appearing overnight and the logistic base of the construction company is alive 24hours a day with helicopters and transport vehicles.
And every night, the Pemon organised in small groups, loosen the bolts holding the towers
onto their bases and axe the concrete pylons. The Savannah is littered with fallen twisted
pylons. The Government has
responded by establishing a
military zone along the line path.
Aware of the negative
repercussions that might be
caused in the international
community, direct conflict with
the Pemon has for long time
been avoided. However at the
end of March the national media
claimed that ‘Indians attacked a
military camp’ in the region. In
reality the Pemon had
requested the military forces to
abandon a illegal camp in the Canaima park, recently established to protect the pylons.
The military responded with violence, detaining the Indigenous leader Silviano who had
been documenting the illegal military activities with a video camera.
According to latest information military forces have now laid mines around the pylons in an attempt to stave off the resistance movement. One of the mines has already exploded spontaneously, causing a bushfire lasting 3 days and devastating a large area of Savannah. Although caused by military, the local Pemon where left alone to fight the fire. These war tactics are now putting innocent people’s lives at risk. Foreign journalists have been expulsed from the area and the national media is censured.
The Government is blaming
the action on outside influence
– foreign environmental and
social organisations 'manipulating'
the minds of the Pemon.
In reality, this desperate action
has arisen from within the
heart of the Pemon
communities. Pemon women,
elders and children are on the front line of the resistance. Leaders are no longer left to decide
the fate of the land and their people. Decisions are taken through a process of consensus -everybody
is involved in negotiations. The Pemon are succeeding in halting the implantation
of these Megaprojects with the most rudimentary equipment – axes and screwdrivers.
Political support of these actions through lobbying the Government has been made by a Coalition of Venezuelan organisations working for environmental preservation and social justice, Survival International, Pro REGENWALD and Amazon Watch. However, the Pemon communities receive virtually no direct support for their actions. Food scarcity is becoming a problem as the Pemon spend more time organising the resistance rather than tending to their subsistence. Their scarce resources are being spent on transport costs for these actions. They have no communication infrastructure to divulge and lobby.