The initiative Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) released a report detailing the impacts of the Interoceanic Corridor on the region and the accompanying violence against indigenous peoples and defenders of land.
The Interoceanic Corridor (CIIT) is a 200km wide corridor that connects the pacific port of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca and the port of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico via railroads. It aims to facilitate the movement of goods between the oceans and is accompanied by a wide range of infrastructure and economic projects like industrial parks, oil refineries and road and airport networks.
This megaproject drastically affects indigenous peoples that live within the region. They report the negative impact on flora and fauna that the construction of new infrastructure brings. Furthermore, the communities where not involved in the planning of projects, nor were they asked for their consent. This goes hand in hand with the lack of information they recieve regarding the planned projects, only learning about them when constructions already started. Also, the CIIT caused a militarization of the region, having soldiers and national guard units patrolling the communities.
The corridor keeps being developed even though local communities are resisting and critizising the lack of respect for their right to self determination, not being consulted in good-faith and not being asked for their consent.
Read report here: Civil Observation Mission in the framework of attacks against indigenous peoples and defenders (IPRI)
