Indigenous people denounce the signing of an agreement to resume work in El Bala and Chepete

According to this Spanish-language article, “the National Electricity Company (ENDE) signed an agreement with the Central of Indigenous Peoples of La Paz (CPILAP) to resume the implementation of hydroelectric plants in El Bala and Chepete” on August 16. The purpose of the agreement “s the coordination and cooperation in the development of all activities in the stage of the "studies to final design of the El Bala Hydroelectric Project or other studies of the electricity sector, as well as the socialization and information by part of ENDE, its contracted and subcontracted companies and affiliates or subsidiaries ”and“ guarantee a fluid and constant communication when it comes to the elaboration of rural electrification projects ”.

The signed agreement allows “ENDE Corporación and its contracted companies to enter “the areas of direct and indirect influence to carry out research work , information, socialization and data collection that allows studies, formulate projects to final design to implement projects for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity ». It also indicates that CPILAP will accompany "the process of socialization, information and data collection for the generation of studies within a framework of respect for professionals and technicians who visit the communities that are in the project's area of ​​influence. They also undertake to "deliver and provide information within the framework of truthfulness, thereby allowing certain results to be obtained that will be the fundamental basis of the project."

“CPILAP is a regional organization that brings together 10 organizations of indigenous peoples of La Paz such as the Indigenous Council of the Tacana People (CIPTA), the Central Indigenous People of the Leco de Apolo (CIPLA), the Leco Indigenous People and the Larecaja Indigenous Communities (PILCOL) , Moseten Indigenous People Organization (OPIM), San José de Uchupiamonas Indigenous People (PI-SJU), Esse Ejja de Eiyoquibo Indigenous Community (CEEE), T-simane Moseten de Pilón Lajas Regional Council (CRTM-PL), Agroecological Community Originally from Palos Blancos (CAOPB), Tacana II Rio Madre de Dios Indigenous Communities (CITRMD) and Captaincy of the Araona Indigenous People (CAPIA).”

Alex Villca, spokesman for the Coordinator for the Defense of Indigenous Peasant Territories and Protected Areas of Bolivia, is quoted in the article: “What worries us in the tenor of this agreement is that it would not only be carried out to carry out complementary studies, but in the future it would be allowing ENDE to start with the start-up and construction of the Chepete and El Bala hydroelectric plants "This is much more serious.”