Mexico: Local communities protesting major wind farm in Oaxaca allegedly subject to intimidation & death threats; companies respond
[Para información en Español, consulte esta página]
Local communities protesting a major wind farm project in Oaxaca, Mexico claim that it would have adverse impacts on their livelihoods due to the economic and cultural significance of the land. Protesters, including the indigenous Ikojts of San Dionisio del Mar, are contesting the project's land-use contract dating back to 2004, claiming it was signed based on incomplete information and a lack of adequate consultation. As the project entered construction phase in 2012, tensions have escalated. At the end of October 2012, according to reports by local civil society, protesters were allegedly subject to intimidation and death threats from individuals linked to the wind farm project.
The project is carried out by Mareña Renovables, backed by a consortium, which reportedly includes PGGM, Mitsubishi Corporation and Macquarie (see note below regarding Macquarie Energy's involvement). It is supported by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (see here for detailed information from the IADB). Vestas is involved in the project's construction. Once completed, the wind farm is planning on supplying energy to FEMSA & Heineken.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited companies financing and benefiting from the project to respond to the following items. Responses are provided below.
- "Dutch wind farm in trouble in Mexico", Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 11 Sep 2012
- "Protesters block work at Latin America's biggest wind farm", Recharge
[Español] - Urgente: amenazas de muerte contra defensores de derechos humanos - San Dionisio del Mar, Comunicade de prensa, Varias organizaciones, 9 Oct 2012
[Español] - "Las manifestaciones contra proyecto eólico en la zona huave se mueve ahora al DF", Grupo Fórmula, 15 de octubre 2012
[Español] - [DOC] Reseña del despojo al pueblo Ikojts de San Dionisio del Mar, Asamblea del Pueblo de San Dionisio del Mar y Asamblea de los Pueblos del Istmo en Defensa de la Tierra y el Territorio, octubre 2012
Responses:
- Confederación de Trabajadores de México (Union of Mexican Workers) did not respond.
- [DOC] FEMSA response / [Español] [DOC] Respuesta de FEMSA
- [DOC] Heineken response
- Macquarie Energy responded that it is not involved in the project
- [PDF] Mareña Renovables response
- [PDF] Mitsubishi Corporation response
- [PDF] PGGM response
- [DOC] Vestas response / [Español] [DOC] Respuesta de Vestas