This project, which consists of three dams in Santa Cruz Barillas municipality, has been rejected in several community consultations in the eight municipalities that would be affected by it. In addition, a state of emergency was declared in 2010 at municipal level, with the subsequent imprisonment of eight activists who were participating in a protest against the entrance of construction machines without social authorization and through deceits.

This is what Micaela Antonio Gonzalez, member of the resistance against this project said during a mobilization outside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Hidralia has brought nothing but political prisoners and violence against women. Many people had to flee to the mountains to escape attacks (such as during the dictatorship)” said Micaela. “Women continue to resist, we are fighting for life, blocking the road to transnational companies, because we know they don´t mean any benefit for us”, said the Guatemalan activist.

In addition, Micaela and Alfredo Baltazar Pedro, member of the Mayan Plurinational Government, delivered a complaint to the Spanish Ombudsman on Hidralia´s actions in their territories.

“Those who don´t speak Spanish, find a translator. The same happens to us when transnational companies come to our territories and we don´t understand them”, and through lies and deceit advance their megaprojects, said Micaela as part of her speech in the day of mobilizations, where the different United Nations offices and services are located.