Argentines Renew Protests over Uruguay Pulp Project
Date: 16-Oct-06
Country: ARGENTINA
About 300 people and environmentalists threw up roadblocks in the first demonstration since March in the town of Gualeguaychu, 150 miles (240 km) north of Buenos Aires, along the Argentina-Uruguay border.
"No one in Gualeguaychu is going to tolerate that the mills belch out smoke that could hurt our children," protester Daniel Perez said.
The roughly US$1.7 billion project led by Finland's Metsa-Botnia and Spain's Ence has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The project originally called for the construction of two plants along the Uruguay River that divides Argentina and Uruguay. But last month, Ence said it would relocate its plant to another site amid persistent complaints by Argentine officials about possible pollution.
Argentines say they are concerned about contamination and the impact on tourism and fishing, while Uruguayans insist the project is environmentally safe.
The protest flared a day after a World Bank agency said the pulp mills meet the lender's environmental standards.
The Argentine government, which gave tacit approval to the protests earlier this year, urged demonstrators not to take to the streets this time.
Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice rejected an Argentine request to suspend construction of the mills. But Argentina continues to challenge them in the courts.
"The roadblocks have judicial consequences that could affect the government's strategy to defend the interests of Gualeguaychu," Environmental Secretary Romina Picolotti said.
(Additional reporting by Damian Wroclavsky in Buenos Aires)