Pehuenche leaders and the land council Consejo de Todas las Tierras announced plans for a demonstration in mid October in protest at Endesa’s US$500M Ralco dam in Chile. Land council leaders, Aucan Huilcaman, said if Ralco is approved it will infringe upon and violate the human rights of Chile’s indigenous populations.

However, reports suggest that most of the Pehuenche community is in favour of dam construction. Eighty-three families have already signed land barter contracts with Endessa, although it is claimed that eight families are refusing to sign any agreement.