The Union of Indigenous Communities of the Northern Zone of the Isthmus (UCIZONI) has asked the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) to immediately suspend and cancel the work of the Trans-Isthmus Train, as it lacks an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
In a communication sent to the head of the Secretariat, Victor Toledo Manzur, the president of the board of directors of that organization reported that the EIR evaluation process presented by the company Ferrocarril del Istmo de Tehuantepec (FIT) was suspended due to the large number errors and omissions.
The cancellation of the EIR was made due to the fact that there was no consultation process with the indigenous peoples through which said rehabilitation work will be carried out, in addition to the fact that the original project consists of 132 kilometers while the EIR only covered a distance of 63 kilometers. This is omitting 69 kilometers, that is to say, half the route.
UCIZONI also pointed out that the project is illegal, because due to the Covid-19 emergency, the process of indigenous consultation that would be carried out with the indigenous peoples of the northern area of the Tehuantepec Isthmus was suspended and postponed, in which the peoples of southern Veracruz also participate.
For more information in Spanish:
Carta Ucizoni, Ucizoni, 15 de abril de 2020
Denuncian inicio de obra en Corredor Transístmico sin contar con MIA, Aristegui Noticas, 22 de abril de 2020
Exige Ucizoni cancelar rehabilitación de vía férrea en el Istmo; es ilegal, advierte, La Jornada, 24 de abril de 2020
Reclaman parar obras de vía transístmica, NVI Noticias, 24 de abril de 2020
For more information from SIPAZ:
Oaxaca: Assembly of Isthmus Peoples in Resistance to Megaprojects Formed (March 19, 2020)
https://www.sipaz.org/focus-the-trans-isthmus-corridor-a-not-so-new-project-of-the-new-government/?lang=en (March, 2020)
National: National Forum “Nature, Indigenous Rights and National Sovereignty in the Tehuantepec Isthmus” Convened; Head of SEMARNAT Says “Trains Are Going Ahead” (February 16, 2020)
Oaxaca: Indigenous Peoples File Complaint with CNDH over Non-compliance with Convention 169 in Consultations on Trans-Isthmus Corridor (February 2, 2020)
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