18 October, 2000

Communiqué #9: Write the World Bank

CHIXOY DAM / RIO NEGRO MASSACRES REPARATIONS CAMPAIGN to get full compensation and just reparations from the World Bank & the Inter-American Development Bank for indigenous (Mayan-Achi) survivors of the Rio Negro community destroyed by construction of the Chixoy Dam in Guatemala

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• Contact: Grahame Russell 416-654-2074
  grussell@rightsaction.org www.rightsaction.org

Greetings from Rights Action [Guatemala Partners]. We include here a copy of a letter that was sent to the World Bank. Please write your own letter, using this as an example, and send it [email, mail, fax, hand delivery] to the World Bank personnel indicated at the bottom. Please email a copy to info@rightsaction.org. For more information about this campaign, see our website [www.rightsaction.org] or contact us.

Thank-you. Rights Action [Guatemala Partners]

Date: Wed, 18 Oct. 2000 06:55:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bret Thiele
To: ... [see below]
CC: info@rightsaction.org

Bret Thiele
332 N. 12th Avenue East
Duluth, MN 55805
USA 20

October 2000

Re: Chixoy Dam Project in Guatemala

Dear [See below],

I am writing in support of the Reparations Campaign to remedy the victimization of the Rio Negro community in Guatemala. I urge you to respond with specificity to the 24 August 2000 letter from Rights Action.

Although I support the 24 August 2000 letter from Rights Action in its entirety, I want to specifically voice my support for the request of Rights Action for:

1. a response to the request for funds necessary for the community to undertake a truly participatory consultation regarding their losses and their needs; and
2. access to information indicating when and with whom World Bank Vice President David de Ferranti consulted, as mentioned in your letter of 30 June 2000.

I also want to specifically voice my support for the request of Rights Action for the release of all World Bank documentation related to the Chixoy Hydroelectric Project, and in particular the reports and agreements listed in the "Project Completion Report on Guatemala-Chixoy Hydroelectric Power Project (Loan 1605-GU)", including:

• The Loan Agreement (LA) and Guarantee Agreement (GA) for both the original loan and secondary loans related to the project.
• The Environmental Protection Plan for the project (produced with support from an IDB technical assistance grant of $1.5 million).
• The January 1977 agreement with the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia to carry out archaeological investigations in the area.
• Agreements between INDE and the Direccion General de Servicios de Salud and the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social.
• The programs for resettlement and compensation (submitted January, 1979; approved June 1979) and documents explaining on what basis this program was judged to be flawed in concept (1984).
• The updated resettlement program adopted as one of the conditions for the supplemental loan (approved March, 1985).
• The program for erosion control (December 31, 1979).
• "Back-to-Office" reports of the resettlement expert employed on this project.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Bret G. Thiele
Attorney at Law
Legal Officer - COHRE - Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions Legal Advisor - Derechos Human Rights

CALL FOR YOUR ACTION

The WB is not taking this Campaign seriously. Please write, email, fax, mail or visit the World Bank, and insist that they have a responsibility to respond to and provide for the needs of the surviving members of the Rio Negro community.

PLEASE WRITE, EMAIL, FAX or CALL TO:

Attention to: Minneh M. Kane [Asst. to the President]
James Wolfensohn
President of the World Bank
The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433
F: 202-522-1677
E: mkane@worldbank.org

And 'cc' your communication to:

Donna Dowsett
Director of the Central America Country Management Unit
E: ddwsettcoirolo@worldbank.org
T: (202)473-0121
F: (202)676-1464

Mark Cackler
Líder Sectorial Central América
E: mcackler@worldbank.org
T: (202) 473-8999
F: (202) 676-1464

Mario Marroquin
World Bank Guatemala City
E: mmarroquin@worldbank.org