On Friday, April 16, the president of the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1), Jirair Meguerian analyzed the appeal from the Attorney General (AGU) and reversed the injunction of the Vara Única de Altamira, Pará, which prevented the auction of Belo Monte scheduled for next April 20 and reinstated the preliminary license granted by IBAMA for the dam.

 

Federal Judge of Altamira, Antonio Carlos de Almeida Campelo, had concurred with federal prosecutors (Ministério Público Federal) in one of the public civil suits dealing with irregularities in the venture. Thus, last Wednesday, the injunction had been granted because the judge had seen the danger of irreparable harm, with the imminent bidding.

 

The argument of the AGU, who initiated the process requesting the suspension of injunction, is that "the suspension of the auction and the environmental license violates the administrative order, since it would cause tumult in the market of electric energy distribution" (site of the AGU ).

 

The struggle continues

 

Yesterday, representatives of the Movement Xingu Forever Alive and Cimi had registered a renewal of hope with the injunction granted. Now, as put Antonia Melo, Movement Xingu Forever Alive, it remains to continue fighting against the construction of the hydroelectric. "We are going to continue to manifesting [in opposition] so that this project is canceled. The movement cannot stop!", He declared.

 

For the Executive Secretary of Cimi, Eden Magalhães, the decision by the TRF1 means that the fight must continue. "Cimi regrets the decision of TRF1, which advocates a project filled with flaws and unconstitutionalities. What we have to do is continue the struggle with the indigenous peoples increasingly united against this project of death", he said. ANEEL (national electrical energy agency), which had suspended the auction of April 20, went back and reopened the deadline for deposit guarantees those construction interested in participating in the auction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam on the River Xingu (Pará). Movements and organizations opposed to the work will hold demonstrations on April 20, in opposition to the auction.

 

 

www.Twitter.com/StopBeloMonte

 

Read more on Belo Monte:

• Director of Avatar asks Lula reconsider the project of Belo Monte
• Belo Monte: External funding may be decisive
• 140 international organizations denounce Belo Monte
• Hydroelectric of Belo Monte: A question of democracy
• Belo Monte “Pharonic project and generator of death” Special interview with Dom Erwin Kräutler
• Indigenous Peoples of the Xingu issue alert regarding licensing announcement for construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric Plant

Background information:

• Summary and History of the Belo Monte Dam: Rainforest Foundation
• Independent Review Highlights the True Costs of Belo Monte Dam
• Summary of the Independent Panel of Experts on the Belo Monte hydroelectric