Weekly Report - 5 August 2003

Endesa, the power company building the controversial Ralco dam, has initiated the process for the eviction of the four Pehuenche families blocking the filling of the reservoir, by paying into a court the mandated compensation. The company expects to start the flooding in May next year, but must yet clear another hurdle: a suit challenging the legality of the environmental impact study which led to the project being authorised in the first place. Endesa is still hoping to avoid forcible eviction of the resisting Pehuenche, who have become international icons.