Luana Lourenço and Renata Giraldi Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília – President Dilma Rousseff’s top administrative aide, Gilberto Carvalho (“ministro-chefe da Secretaria-Geral da Presidência da República”), says that in spite of the position of Amnesty International, the Belo Monte hydroelectric project on the Xingu River in the state of Pará is something the Brazilian government is proud of and a project it intends to move ahead with.

“We respect the position of Amnesty International, but Brasilia is convinced that this is a just process. We believe the project is adequate. We are proud of this endeavor. We will furnish any necessary information on Belo Monte, but the construction will definitely move ahead,” declared Carvalho.

A note from Amnesty International based its opposition to the construction of Belo Monte on fears that the needs of indigenous communities in the region, including healthcare and their cultural heritage, would not be protected.

The deputy director for the Americas at Amnesty International, Guadalupe Mrengo, declared that building the dam “… threatens the rights of local indians, and those rights must be totally guaranteed. Construction of Belo Monte should be suspended until such guarantees can be confirmed.”

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

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