In response to this, several organizations opposed to this project called for mobilizations in Santiago, Valparaíso, Temuco, Concepción, Valdivia, Puerto Montt, Talca, La Serena and of course Coyhaique, the regional capital city of Aysen, where the dams would be built.

In Coyhaique, over one thousand people took to the streets and some local leaders were arrested, in addition to teenagers and children present in the protests.

Groups of students and state workers joined the demonstrations by occupying different educational institutions until May 21st, said Victor Hugo from Jovenes Tehueches, to Real World Radio.

Victor Hugo said that there are many conflicts over land in Chile due to hydroelectric and thermoelectric projects and transnational mining companies, and added that the demonstrations against HydroAysen are a landmark in terms of social actions after the dictatorship in his country.

Victor Hugo also made reference to the direct link between the government and local and transnational companies that benefit from these projects.

In fact, according to Radio Universidad from Chile, the approval of HidroAysén caused a group of MPs to call for a Commission to investigate the work of authorities and the Service of Environmental Assessment in the region.

“A good thing is that the Chilean people are coming together, we are seeing fifteen thousand people marching together, and that’s something we’d never seen in defense of the territory”, said Victor to Real World Radio.

Photo: Patricio Mansilla