On February 12th, residents of San Dionisio del Mar mobilized to block the access of state and federal officials related to the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec project who would visit the Ikoots people. With banners they expressed their opposition to this megaproject and highlighting the lack of information and consultation on the works that are planned to be carried out in the lagoon area.
The protesters expressed that at the moment there are other priorities than the implementation of this project, including attention to homes damaged since the earthquake in 2017 as well as the special attention that the community needs facing the pandemic: the vaccination of elderly people, the reinforcement of sanitation and the provision of sanitary supplies to prevent infections.
The organization Guardianes del Mar said that there was an intention on the part of the president of the Municipal Council of San Dionisio del Mar to hide the visit of the officials behind the Interoceanic Corridor from the community: “The experience of struggle that we have against the wind farming company Mareña Renovables gives us many lessons that our people do not forget, such as misinformation, deception, conditioning social programs, the buying out our authorities, division and violence. For this we urge, avoid exposing our community to any type of violence”, it added.
This community dedicated entirely to fishing has lived in resistance to megaprojects, especially wind power since 2012. Members of Isthmus collectives such as the Unión Hidalgo Community Assembly, the Gui’xhi ro Community General Assembly (AO) and the Indigenous Peoples Assembly in Resistance (APIR), supported the disagreement of the inhabitants and called on federal and state authorities to suspend “all kinds of acts related to this megaproject because they ensure what is generating acts of conflict between locals.”
For more information in Spanish:
Habitantes de San Dionisio del Mar rechazan visita de funcionarios del Corredor Interoceánico (El Universal, 12 de febrero de 2021)
Comunidades del Istmo se movilizan contra Corredor Interoceánico (Educa Oaxaca, 12 de febrero de 2021)
Con bloqueo rechazan en San Dionisio del Mar obras del Corredor Interoceánico del Istmo de Tehuantepec (12 de febrero de 2021)
For more information from SIPAZ:
Oaxaca: Indigenous from the Isthmus Oppose the Transoceanic Corridor (July 27, 2020)
Oaxaca / National: The indigenous resistance front against the Trans-Isthmus Corridor is strengthening(July 17, 2020)
Oaxaca: AMLO Inaugurates Trans-Isthmus Corridor; Civil Organizations Say “He’s Taking Advantage of Pandemic”(June 11, 2020)
Oaxaca/Nacional: Más de 100 OSC rechazan proyecto del Corredor Transístmico a unos día de visita de AMLO (5 de junio de 2020)
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