Below you will see a declaration that was signed at the closing of the annual Archeological symposium in Guatemala. I hope you will agree that this issue is of extreme importance and will join by expressing your agreement with the declaration. Addresses for those messages are given at the end of the declaration. The organizers ask that you also send a blind copy to them - address also given.
The organizers, scientists, students, participants and assistants at the XVI Symposium of Archaeological Investigations in Guatemala, representatives of the Association of Archaeologists of Guatemala and the Tikal Association signing below manifest the following:
1. Our fear for the latent danger that the construction project for various hydroelectric dams on the Usumacinta River represents for the conservation of archaeological sites and for the flora and fauna of the National Park Sierra del Lacandón.
2. Our appeal to the governmental authorities that they pronounce in an official manner about the truthfulness of the news published by the communications media of Mexico and Guatemala concerning the imminent construction of hydroelectric dams on the Usumacinta River as well as the specific places that will be impacted.
3. Our request to the authorities of the Ministry of Culture and Sports that as quickly as possible they carry out technical studies under the direction of recognized professionals in archaeology, environmental conservation and other specialists; studies about the potential impact of the dams project with the goal of evaluating the damages that their construction would cause to the cultural and natural resources of the nation.
4. Our solidarity with the Guatemalan society, with the Peten community and with the organizations for the defense of the environment of the Maya Biosphere in their rejection of the imminent construction of the hydroelectric dams.
5. We make a call to cultural, environmental, and non-government organizations, universities, popular sectors, and similar international entities so that they pronounce concerning the threat that the construction of the hydroelectric dams represents to the cultural and natural patrimony of Guatemala.
6. We urge the scientific community of archaeologists and the society in general to keep themselves alert about whatever damage is thought might be caused to the cultural patrimony of the Usumacinta zone.
Send to:
Ministerio de Energía y Minas - Dr. Raúl Archila, mailto:ministro@mem.gob.gt
Oficina del PPP de la República de México - Lic. Florencio Salazar flsalazar@presidencia.gob.mx
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - Enrique V. Iglesias mailto:webmaster@iadb.org
Office of Evaluation and Oversight/BID - Rudolfo Faller <mailto:rudolff@iadb.org
Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica/Guatemala
mailto:WebMail-gt@bcie.org
Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica/Sede Honduras
mailto:WebMail-hn@bcie.org
Please send a blind copy to this address: cieppeten@intelnet.net.gt