URUGUAY: Uruguayans march in support of controversial European paper mill project that Argentines say will pollute environment

Record ID: 351620

  • Title: URUGUAY: Uruguayans march in support of controversial European paper mill project that Argentines say will pollute environment
  • Date: 17th March 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JORGE LOPEZ, PROTESTER, SAYING: "I'm here so they open up the route. I'm here for the freedom of work for Uruguayans-- that four well-fed become not come to block off our streets."
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: International Relations,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA9AFUKA0H2HYWFBESQDV4VBYPX
  • Story Text: Thousands of Uruguayans marched on Thursday (March 16) in support of the construction of two paper mills that have caused diplomatic sparring between it and neighbouring Argentina in recent months, with Uruguay insisting on going ahead with construction of the two pulp mills and Argentina questioning their environmental safety.
    Echoing the sentiments of Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez, Rio Negro Intendant Omar Lafluf said the mills will be constructed, bringing much-needed employment to the region.
    "The people of Rio Negro are worried today when there's talk of the possibility of delaying the building project, and the workers especially are worried," Lafluf said. "We want to bring the workers tranquility: that the objective-- the installation of these mills here in Fray Bentos-- will go forward."
    More than 2,500 people broke the traditional calm of Fray Bentos in the protest. While many marched holding Uruguayan flags, others rode motorcycles, cars and horses, to express their support of the $1.7 billion pulp mill project.
    Local residents also expressed their frustration at blockades along the highway linking the two countries, that they say resulted in some Uruguayans losing their jobs.
    "We lost our job because of the Gualeguaychu blockades," said Hugo Rocha. "There were 250 of us families who were left out and on unemployment insurance."
    The blockades have severely curtailed traffic to Uruguay during the country's peak tourism season.
    The mills, to be built by Finland's Metsa-Botnia and Spain's Ence, are expected to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes of wood pulp for export after they begin production in 2007.
    Argentine critics say the mills will lead to acid rain and harm the fish and birds of the Uruguay River, shared by the two countries.
    On Wednesday (March 15), Argentina threatened to take its complaints against to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
    The companies say any pollutants from the plants would be within internationally accepted levels.
    The mills are among Uruguay's biggest planned foreign investment projects, located on the banks of the Uruguay River dividing Uruguay from Argentina's Entre Rios province.
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