Senators warn of Social Pop Zimapán PRD Sep.11, 2009 in Notes. Los de Abajo.
Stenographic version. Demand
create special committee of senators to review project viability of Hidalgo, in a conference of senators of the PRD José Luis Maximo Garcia Zalvidea, Herviz Arturo Reyes, José Guadarrama Márquez and Francisco Javier Castellón Fonseca, the mayor of Zimapán, Hidalgo, and the leader of the All Zimapán We in the Press Room of the Legislative Palace of Xicoténcatl.
For Desde Abajo
José Guadarrama Márquez
(JGM). Good afternoon, we are here senators of the PRD parliamentary group to discuss an issue on other occasions we have been discussing with the media and we appreciate very much.
is with us today Mr. Zimapán constitutional mayor, Hidalgo, José María Lozano, and that this matter has come to the attention of the media persistently, the Senate appointed a committee in due course of senators and senators that we move to Zimapán, Hidalgo, to the delicate problem of the hazardous waste landfill has been a stubborn, foolish that is built and operating, and a resistance movement We Are All Zimapán, who heads precisely what today is, citizens will The constitutional mayor Zimapan José María Lozano.
Not only has been solving the needs of the population, but on the contrary it has increased police presence with a systematic threat to be constantly doing acts that scare people in the municipality, not to mention has been made , as discussed in other opportunities that have long affected the population, for their safety.
Recently the state legislature, all parliamentary factions of the state Congress spoke for the exit of the police forces that help rather than harm, not only gives a sensation, but the plain fact of insecurity for people in Zimapán municipality.
Of course, I'm doing this first part of a presentation in which the senators here in due course they want and will participate, but particularly we are very concerned that the constitutional mayor, José María Lozano, whoever can give its point of view, their experience, direct feel and especially the demand of citizens that has been demonstrating the insecurity felt by the police which are groups with the operation of this confinement, and especially now as the mayor, the disrespect and lack of compliance with Article 115 of the Constitution.
I pass the microphone to the President municipal constitutional Zimapan, José María Lozano to be more explicit and precise in matters of this issue of hazardous waste landfill Zimapán, Hidalgo.
José María Lozano (JML). Thank you, Senator.
Good morning.
Zimapán Municipal President, Hidalgo, formerly one of the leaders of the All We Zimapán, and the big concern, based on the fact that events may occur that no one will like them and no one would like happen in a village in Mexico, in a village called Zimapán Hidalgo and we're on the mountain ... in the mountainous area in the Sierra Madre Oriental.
at all costs is intended to be operational the dump toxic and dangerous largest in Mexico and Latin America's largest. Our people have demonstrated many times in a peaceful way, and now the request is made public is the involvement of all governments to the Federal Preventive Police is there since June of last year, came with more than 800 items and to date have committed ... is there a situation of violence, assault, robbery, beatings to people, there are 60 complaints in the prosecution that they see how far they are to protect citizens are only in bullying and the fight at all costs the company in operation.
Now as authority, I your servant, José María Lozano, because on the one side is respect for human rights, respect for municipal autonomy, which is what we ask and ask and collaboration and support of the Senate Republic to be possible to form a commission to intervene and to participate in a dialogue to be carried out with the authorities involved in the case of toxic waste dump.
is given by the Ministry of the Interior a bureau involving Semarnat, Profepa, the government of the state of Hidalgo and the municipal government, then we would see the possibility we support the Senate with a commission and that is integrated ... and also in this working with us to shield and ... no satisfaction to the people, but that will have the full security.
state governor was three months ago, was in Zimapán and said he will take multidisciplinary studies allowed to see the non-viability or feasibility of the project. Has been submitted by the group We Are All Zimapan a proposal from a recognized institution in the world that spans two thousand items worldwide and is an incorruptible institution that can perform these studies.
To date we have had no response, so far all we've received as well as municipal authority is warning people that ... it was last Thursday, eight days ago, the company went into operation in 24 hours.
We really extremely concerned that our people have high knowledge of what is pollution, there are many cases of cancer in Zimapán, not the toxic waste dump because it has not come into operation, but the mining situation that exists there .
We have an environmental liability of millions of tons, the contaminated groundwater is 26 times more than the maximum permissible for a man to have no problems of cancer is a situation that we see high-risk zimapenses that reach four thousand tons per day to place and are emptying toxic wastes and hazards.
We support the Senate call for the solidarity of the people of Mexico and above all comprehension and understanding of our governments, state government and federal government to do a thorough and if you are at risk the life of a single Hidalgo, single zimapense said our governor, because, well, that will stop the project before it causes a problem of unfortunate consequences.
Thanks.
Francisco Javier Castellón Fonseca (FJCF). Only to reiterate what has been said already by Senator Guadarrama and the mayor of Zimapán, I would like to remind our colleagues from the media that were about one and a half at the site where you want to put into operation this toxic waste dump and believe me that not only demands of the population but also the very conditions in which it would develop, it is clear that means a serious risk to the population of Zimapán and surrounding populations found in the surrounding region.
believe that the big problem we are facing is the lack of sensitivity of the federal government and state government to a problem that this is a problem of pollution and aggression against the natural environment and social environment where you plan to put this toxic waste dump, then we call upon the media to remain vigilant to this problem is really a fundamental problem not only for the residents of this region but also in general for Mexico's population now and then we can consider as a toxic dumping ground in many parts of the world.
Remember, there were a few days ago the rejection by Brazil of a ship full of containers of toxic waste back to England, mainly due to social pressure, and this social pressure is that has come to be manifest in Hidalgo Zimapán and for over eighteen months.
Herviz Arturo Reyes (AHR). Just to confirm, of course, the solidarity and support of the PRD parliamentary group in this very sensitive matter, and certainly what the president says municipal, respect for municipal autonomy must be enforced by law, we can not continue to allow that big business or big interests continue to affect the Mexicans.
We can not allow these powerful interests continue trampling on the law, so affirm, then, our support and solidarity to the people of Zimapán, Hidalgo.
José Luis Maximo Garcia Zalvidea (JLGZ). Sure, and endorse in any way the personal commitment we took to the people of Zimapán in this visit we made last year and a half and we endorse here at the media who are willing to sustain this commitment and is made justice, to apply the law, we are aware of certain illegalities, irregularities have been committed over these tenders or those legal business processes, and accurately, even us the people of Zimapán we have provided in the extent of our possibilities, legal advice, lawyers who truly have a sense of humanity, which are going to fund the matter to see how justice can be done. Here
generally PRD senators declare ourselves against this international division of work you want to assign some countries the role simply dumps containers function as the major industrial powers, then here is simply to defend this right fundamental as it has the population to have a decent environment for themselves and their families.
And as you can tell when you visit this city, the proximity of this area where you want to set this toxic dump is definitely very dangerous and draws our attention that some adjustments be made in the last minute to allow, say, a remedy that would safeguard, say, this situation is not respected the parameters of distance, remoteness from population centers, then we're going to keep very alert and very aware Zimapán reiterate our commitment in this case very worthily represented by its president, in the Senate as ...
JLMGZ. In this case very worthily represented by its mayor in the Senate as a sounding board for all social concerns, we will provide timely follow up on this issue.
JGM. Well, with this demonstration of support for the PRD parliamentary group of the people Zimapan, movement, and its president, Jose Maria Lozano, we are at your disposal for the questions you consider appropriate.
Question (Q). Senator, the feasibility of the creation of a committee in the Senate, precisely, to investigate this case, to follow up as he said the mayor.
JGM. We will re-raise, initially for a year and a half, as I said Senator Francisco Javier Castellón, the Senate appointed a committee that we move as a committee of the Senate, raised a point of agreement has been bogged down in the Commission for which was referred, and we, with this visit, the president and the press conference, the senators here and some others who have accompanied Zimapán be and be on the subject, to ask again that beyond the final support having the mayor, the movement and people Zimapán, which is under a committee of all political forces in the Senate.
P. There is a signed contract that the government of Mexico, with the government of Spain, investment protection to what is going to do in this case, it is irresponsible, the Senate knows?
FJCF. No, I have no knowledge.
P. This document is part of the problem, there is a document who signs the government of Mexico with the English Colonial, investment protection, does the Senate know?
FJCF. No, we do not know it's true that there is an agreement that we must recognize and ratify, and it is clear that any agreement you make with foreign country to finally talk about protection of investments, you should never be above the welfare of population, which make such investments or that is against their health.
I think any security agreement in favor of foreign investment in a country should never be against the interests of the population.
JGM. And also all agreements and treaties we have signed, should never be in violation of the law, and we, as the mayor said, we have shown that this is a violation of the law.
P. Based on that the government of the Republic of compensation that he has to pay the company if it goes into operation, inclusive, have even threatened that the Municipality of Zimapán what you would pay.
JML. For a year, year and a half, one of the attendees of the former undersecretary of the Interior, June Abraham González engineer, told us that if people are still opposed, there would be a calamity, and managed a number of 30 million dollars and said: I will have to pay you, and we answered: why us? If we do not cause it.
To us, all we did was to deceive a garbage recicladota not have mentioned the possibility of a bankruptcy and we have to pay, if so, should we ask for more solidarity and support, of course, the senators.
