Amnesty International urges Brazil to suspend Amazon dam project

Amnesty International urges Brazil to suspend Amazon dam project

2011-06-03 05:28:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- Amnesty International on Thursday urged Brazilian authorities to protect the rights of indigenous communities living around the river Xingu as the country's environmental agency approved the construction of the Belo Monte dam.

"Brazil must abide by the recommendations issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to suspend the construction of the Belo Monte dam until the rights of local indigenous communities are fully guaranteed," said Guadalupe Marengo, Americas Deputy Director at Amnesty International.

"Continuing with the construction of the Belo Monte Dam before ensuring the rights of indigenous communities are protected is equivalent to sacrificing human rights for development."

Last April, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said the license for the construction of the dam should be suspended until indigenous communities are fully and effectively consulted. On Wednesday, however, Brazil's environmental agency approved the construction of the Belo Monte dam.

Environmentalists, indigenous communities, federal prosecutors, and other human rights defenders have raised serious concerns over the years about the potential impact on the human rights of indigenous communities living in the area.

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