Back

Andean Group - March 2012 (ISSN 1741-4466)

COLOMBIA: Film undermines government’s image

Entitled ‘the video the government doesn’t want us to watch’, the short film released in mid February about the construction of the El Quimbo dam on the Magdalena River, in the south-western department of Huila, and the violent repression of the people who oppose it, was sure to make headlines. Although there may be different views as to the real motives of those who released the film, one thing is sure: a 15-year old project that barely featured in the Colombian press, even though it is the first private sector hydro project to be built in the country, has now become an issue of national interest. And members of the Juan Manuel Santos administration, particularly Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Frank Pearl, are having to answer very uncomfortable questions. On several occasions, Pearl has had to simply admit “I don’t know”, giving the protestors the semblance of greater moral authority as the state appears misinformed, at best.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 642 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

Back

Articles in this issue