SN Power
SN Power is a Norwegian company founded in 2002, which seeks to satisfy the energy demand in emerging markets and obtain profits for its investors by the means of hydroelectric projects in various locations in the world, meanwhile declaring its intention to protect the environment and local cultures. In their Annual Report 2006 they define themselves as a dynamic and ambitious company which seeks growth, this commercial interest being one of its explicit values.

According to this same document, and as its executives have declared, SN Power aims to develop its most important project at the global level in Chile, allowing the generation of 1000 MW. The company`s intention is to install three hydroelectric plants in the Rivers Region, via their affiliate executing hydroelectric company Trayenko S.A., which in turn is an affiliate of the Gustavo Pavez group (vicepresident of the Security Bank), which posess 20% of the shares. According to their calculations, this project will deliver 500 MW and the majority of profits in the energy sector. 

Specifically, these plants, which will start operating in 2012 and 2014, will be located in the Pellaifa (75 MW) and Liquiñe (125 MW) sectors, and in the municipality of Panguipulli, and at the Maqueo plant (300 MW) in the municipality of Futrono. 

Initially the company has obtained a provisional concession for two years from the Superintendant of Electricity and Combustibles (SEC), to evaluate the feasability of the project. 

The  company has also obtained the surface water rights of the various rivers, currents and estuaries in the zone: the rivers Llancahue, Quilalelfu, Reyehueico, Carranco, Riñintilelfu, Llizán and Changlil, and the estuaries Aihue and Malihue.

Currently, SN Power is performing studies in order to capture and redirect these water courses by means of subterranean tunnels, directed towards electrical turbine generators and houses, which will transmit energy through high tension towers intented for the the mining companies, which are also foreign companies. 

The company declared that “all the rivers that will be intervened will always maintain part of its water flow, which means that the rivers will not dry out as a consequence of our projects. Nor ar we considering constructing large reservoirs.” However, the reservoir will inundate several hectares, and in the case of the Llancahue river, its water will be diverted to other channels.

Given that there have been no studies done on the rivers nor has anyone specified how they will calculate the ecological volumes, these declarations do not have any validity, are ambiguous and do not gurantee anything. That which is clear, in the case of the Llancahue river, is that they seek to remove more than 60% of its natural capacity and divert it to another location 20 kilometers further down the mountain. This means that the river will lose an important percentage of its water level and provoke an irreversible deterioration to the ecosystem of the river, to the biodiversity in the area and the landscpape which many tourists enjoy.

Additionally, the tunnels which the company aims to build in order to redirect the water, will be as deep as 300 metres, have a diametre of 6 metres, a total length of 19 kilometres, and will be accomplised by detonating explosives. 

This presents innumerable problems: 

• The enormous quantity of debris and rock material produced by the construction of the tunnels and aqueducts and the uncertain destination that this rubble will finally reach. It is estimated that the total quantity of debris will be about the same size as Mount Diuco (36 000 m³).
• The ravines and gullies will be filled with the material mentioned above, which could provoke alluviums after any amount of prolonged rainfall, which will present a serious risk to the people living downriver. 
• The fact that there are two geological faults in the area where the reservoir and plants are to be built, means a high risk of earth displacement caused by the amount of destruction that the reservoirs and inundations downriver will provoke. 

In order to perform the studies, SN Power has to intervene in the area, in the properties of mapuche communities as well as in private properties. Until now the locals have manifested a general opposition and have denied permission to the company to enter their property without a court order, because this project implies an enormous impact on the environment and the lives of the surrounding communities. 
Impacts on the Mapuce Communities
• Violation of Indigenous Rights: According to international agreements which the company has signed, these projects have been designed without consulting nor informing the mapuche communities in the area. In this regard, the Chilean State has predominated over the right of free determination of the Mapuche people, by condoning the execution of these projects without entering into dialogue with the communities beforehand.

• The development model which is being imposed by the Chilean State and the foreign companies is one of a short term vision which benifits economic growth for a privileged few due to the economic power they possess. In Chile there is a history of megaprojects which have created problems in Mapuche territories, and a large part of the natural wealth are in the hands of economic groups which are committed to maintain a model of social inequality, such as acquiring water rights, water which is seen in the Mapuche worldview as for everyone and not just for a few. 

• Spiritual Intervention: a violation of sacred spaces, without respecting the religious significance for the communities. For example: intervention in the mountain, with explosives and detonations (they estimate a total of 19000 detonations), and creating large and deep tunnels. For the Mapuche, the mountain is sacred, as are the water and the forest. It is evident that neither the company nor the Chilean State has listened to the voice of the Mapuche leaders, about the type of development that the communities would like to establish and the legacy which they would like to leave the future generations. In itself, this project will intervene in the Mapuche cementaries, which are sacred sites where the spirits of their ancestors rest. 

• Territorial Intervention: it is well known that throughout history, the Mapuche people have been stripped of their lands, leaving them each time further marginalized and deep in the mountain ranges. This has been recognized, and currently there is an Indigenous Law in Chile in order to protect their territories and their right to live in their land in the way in which they define themselves. A project such as that of SN Power will radically alter that life in their territory, will destroy their natural wealth, and without it the communities will have to migrate to the cities in order to look for work and means of living. Eloquent studies describe this phenomenon, and show that the urbanization of the mapuche has been funest for their cultural survival as a people. Additionally, the posibilities for finding work are precarious, their salaries are minimal and they often do not have any other alternative other than living a degrading life in the margins of the cities, losing their roots and community way of life, which are what centrally maintains their culture. 

• Loss of historical memory: The destruction of the environment will bring with it the disintegration of the communities and the loss of important traditions for the community life of the Mapuche people. 

• Intervention in the quality of life: The vision of development of the Mapuche people is based on a balance with nature, where human life is a part of it and fulfills the function of protecting it. These projects are an alteration in this balance. 

• The communities value the acts of sustainable tourism which exist in the area, as a source of income. They sell their traditional products to the tourists which pass by them on the road. The intervention in the area by projects such as those by SN Power will change the type of tourist visiting the area, as those tourists that come to seek natural, quiet and beautiful environments will no longer come, and tourism itself will be reduced in the form that exists today. 

• Those that live on the side of the road will be seriously damaged as the projects aim to widen the current two-way road, which means that they will be expelled from their property, with a very low indemnity. 
 

October 28th, 2007?
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRANCE BY SN POWER IN MAPUCHE TERRITORY
The communities of the area mobilized to expel the technical workers who usurped their territory. 
Before the unauthorized entrance of contractors of SN Power in mapuche territory, the communities of Carririñe, Liquiñe and Neltume decided to take drastic measures, and they convened on Monday October 22nd to expel the company technicians from their property which they had usurped, demanding them to retract their persons and their equipment which they had installed in order to drill the earth, in the course of 4 days. About 60 mapuche and non-mapuche people participated in the mobilization, whom walked up the moutain slopes to the summits where the equipment and personnel of the company were working. 
In this act SN Power has infringed upon the most basic of ethical principals, and its agreements and declarations to the United Nations. Additionally, due to the absence of access roads, they had to transport the equipment to these territories by helicopter, in a clandestine manner, and without asking permission from any of the communities, whom are the rightful owners of these territories. 
In this context, the mapuche communities, the neighbours, local organizations and sustainable tourism entrepreneurs which support the communities are NOT PREPARED to enter into dialogue or negociate with the norwegian company SN Power. 
“WE DO NOT WANT HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS OF ANY KIND”, stated the mapuche leader María Eugenia Calfuñanco, which representes the following mapuche communities which were present at the mobilization: 
• Ancestral Community Vicente Pitrillan, sector Carrirriñe
• Ancestral Community José Neculfilo, sector Carrirriñe.
• Ancestral Community Juan Painepe, sector Trafún
• Ancestral Community Cachìn Palitue, sector Carrirriñe
• Ancestral Community Juan Quintuman, sector Neltume
• Ancestral Community Valeriano Cayecun, sector Neltume
• Ancestral Community  Pillando, sector Punahue.
• Ancestral Community Vicente Reinahuel, sector Trafún Chico
The mayor of Panguipulli also participated in the mobilization which ended in the expulsion of SN Power`s contractors, who supports the cause in the defense of the territories, and at the same time opposes any type of project which negatively effects the sustainable development of the municipality. 
As one of the lonkos (chiefs) of Carrirriñe expressed:
“WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO ROB US OF OUR RIVERS...WE ONLY WANT THEM TO LEAVE, WITHOUT TROUBLE”. 
Mesa Pellaifa Newen.

Sunday, November 25, 2007
MANIFESTO IN IMPORTANT NORWEGIAN NEWSPAPER AFTENPOSTEN
Today, November 25th, an insert was published in one of the most important Norwegian Newspapers, Aftenposten. The information included in the insert has the purpose of informing and alerting the Norwegian public about SN Power`s interventions in our area, and the inauspicious consequences the projects will bring. 
The insert appears in page three of the newspaper Aftenposten today, november 25th, which can be seen in the image below:
...
From all the places that we are found, with our feet planted firmly on the ground, we strongly defend our culture and territory, thanks to those that have made the publication of the manifesto possible. The published text, translated to English, is the following: 
Norwegian company SN Power threatens the Mapuche people in the South of Chile.
SN Power, a Norwegian state subsidiary, intends to construct four hydroelectric plants in territories inhabited by our original indigenous (Mapuche) communities in the South of Chile, which threatens to destroy sacred spaces, deplete important rivers and estuaries, and radically transform our traditional form of life. 
Since SN Power announced the project, the ancestral communities have denounced that the company does not recognize international agreements which the norwegian state has signed, such as Convention 169 of the ILO, violating the right of informed consent of those projects with influence their lives. They have not considered the collective and territorial rights that have been recognized internationally. SN Power has acquired the rights to water of sacred sources and traditional use of the mapuche families.
These projects are intended to be executed in a territory recently declared a GLOBAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE by UNESCO,  and their execution will destroy the great biodiversity which exists there, and its traditional uses by the mapuche communities in the provision of food sources and natural medicines. In itself, these projects will intervene in the spirituality and forces which maintain the natural balance of the territory and the entire world. 
The territory in which SN Power intends to intervene has exceptional landscap conditions, and together with the living culture of the mapuche communities, form a great potential for the development of tourism and the preservation of nature. That is why civil society sectors and small tourism enterprises reject this project. 
The affected communities have true capacities to undertake their own development strategies, coherent with their worldvision and their harmonious relation with the environment. 
The Mapuche communities have a unique lifestyle, which is differentiated in the context of modernity. Their interest is to defend their collective rights as a people, which also means defending the rights of the Chilean population, and protecting the invaluable natural and cultural patrimony. 
The implementation of this project has already damaged the peaceful coexistance of the social relations in the area, provoking conflicts of unexpected consequences which will translate into divisions of the population. 
That is why we invite the national and international public to reject these types of projects, to propose initiatives of sustainable development, respectful of Life, Nature and indigenous peoples, which do not irreversibly transform life and nature. 
Signed by:
Ancestral Community Carlos Antimilla, sector Coñaripe Bajo - Pallaifa
Ancestral Community Juan Antiqueo, sector Linoico
Ancestral Community Rayen Mapu, sector Chépica
Ancestral Community Pirren Mapu, sector Chépica Alto
Ancestral Community Vicente Pitrillan, sector Carrirriñe
Ancestral Community José Calfuluan, sector Culán
Ancestral Community Juan Catrilaf, sector Llancahue
Ancestral Community José Neculfilo, sector Carrirriñe.
Ancestral Community Juan Calfuñanco, sector Río Hueico
Ancestral Community Vicente Reinahuel, sector Trafún Chico
Ancestral Community Juan Painepe, sector Trafún
Ancestral Community Cachìn Palitue, sector Carrirriñe
Ancestral Community Juan Quintuman, sector Neltume
Ancestral Community Valeriano Cayecun, sector Neltume
Ancestral Community  Pillando, sector Punahue.

Thursday November 29th, 2007
WERKEN PEDRO ANTIMILLA INVITED TO IMPORTANT SEMINAR IN NORWAY
With much joy and apreciation we received the news that one of the members of the Mesa, the werken (messenger) Pedro Antimilla has been invited to participate as a panelist in a seminar in Oslo, Norway, called by the NGO FIVAS (Association for the International Studies of Water). This invitation was made by Andrew Preston, representative of the NGO. 
The seminar will take place on Tuesday, December 11th in Oslo, and its objective is to present the report created by Miguel Utreras Imilqui on the situation of the Mapuche communities which will be affected by the hydroelectric projects that SN Power has planned for the municipality of Panguipulli. This report especially focusses on aspects of territorial, cultural, social and economic rights of the Mapuche people and their conflict with SN Power`s subsidaries. 
Those panalists invited to the seminar are:
• Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui, author of the report.
• Pedro Antimilla, of the Mesa Pellaifa Newen. 
• Silvia Schönenberger, of the Observatory of the Rights of Indigenous People in Temuco, Chile
• A representative of the LO (National Labour Centre of Norway)
• A representative of Norfund (Norwegian governmental institute, owner of 50% of SN Power`s shares.
• A representative of SN Power. 
The invitation of a representative of the Mesa has the purpose of making known to the Norwegian public, interested organizations and Norwegian governmental sectors that are designing policies in the areas of development and investments in the energy sector, the position of the affected communities, persons and groups, and to show evidence of which we have been experiencing that the company SN Power has a lack of respect for territorial rights of the mapuche people, and the non-complicance with Convention 169 of the ILO and the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
This invitation arose from the visit that Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui made to Coñaripe last May, when he interviewed members of the Comission Newen Mapu (which are now members of the Mesa Pellaifa Newen), who offered important information with respect to the interventions SN Power made in the area. 
The call to attend the seminar is open. The presence of NGOs such as the Grupo Latinoamericano is expected, who have been following the case and would like to write about this in the annual report Ayuda Popular Noruega, which has been informed of the case and have manifested their disagreement with its implications. The Norwegian government will be represented by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, which is responsible for Norfund; and the Ministry of Energy, which is responsible for Statkraft (owners of the other 50% of SN Power). The seminar will also expect to be attended by norwegian parliamentaries, members of the press and the general public. 
The seminar will offer recommendations directed at the Norwegian State, the Chilean State and SN Power, each according to their respective responsibilities. These recommendations are made according to the international agreements of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, it will be asked of the central directors of SN Power to respond to the diverse conflicts which have been generated in the process, and about the attitude that the company has decided to take towards the communities`demands. 
It is important to note that the demands which will be made to SN Power in Oslo, are the same as those which the communities of Coñaripe and Liquiñe have been making for months to the company: THAT SN POWER WITHDRAWS FROM PANGUIPULLI.
We believe that the opportunity this seminar will offer is a relevant part of the process that we have all constructed in defense of our culture and our Ñuke Mapu (Mother Earth). Until now we have taken important steps in opposition to SN Power`s projects. Each community and each organization, from their territory and limited resources, has informed the people of the threats that the plants will imply to our lifestyles and environment. We have managed to neutralize the manipulation, arrogance and lies of the representatives of SN Power, showing that the majority of the people in our area do not want their projects, which will bring poverty and deterioration to its inhabitants. 
We have reached a very important moment, and without a doubt the invitation to Norway to inform the people there of the bad practices of SN Power and their lack of respect for the international agreements, is very well received, in order to alert the Norwegian public of the irrepairable damage that SN Power`s project could generate in our communities and territory. It is an important challenge to go to the same house of the invadors and tell them that we will not allow them to enter into our territories. 
This action will reinforce our communities, as other actions that have been undertaken in past few days by the communities in Carririñe, guided by the werken María Eugenia Calfuñanco, to express with clarity the downright rejection of hydroelectric projects in the area. 
Pedro Antimilla`s trip also symbolizes for us a beautiful and mysterious coincidence in the path of our fight, which connects us to the newen and our Ñuke Mapu, which are supporting us and sustaining us in our cause, which is the most just cause that exists. This is why we are here, and it is the purpose of the werken Pedro Antimilla`s trip to show mother earth that we will defend her.
For this, we ask that all remain united and support Pedro´s trip with good wishes, as he will go and defend the rights of all the communities, of the mapuche and non-mapuche people in the area. 

Friday December 14th 2007 
HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MAPUCHE COMMUNITIES OF COÑARIPE IN NORWAY 

AFTER THE JOY OF A TRIP FILLED WITH LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENTS, AND THE JOYFUL RETURN OF OUR WERKEN PEDRO ANTIMILLA, WE PRESENT THE FOLLOWING SYNOPSIS OF THE ACTIVITIES WHICH TOOK PLACE IN OSLO, NORWAY.

By Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui

During his visit in Oslo, Norqay, the Werken (messenger) of the communities in Coñaripe and member of the Mesa Pellaifa Newen, Pedro Antimilla, attended a series of activities in which he declared that the Mapuche communities are in oposition to the hydroelectric projects planned by SN Power. The activities took place from December 10 th to 13th, 2007. 
On December 10th, members of the Norwegian press held interviews concerning the conflict. The newspaper Klassekampen interviewed the werken, expressing the opinion of the organisations he represents, giving special attention to the Collective Rights of the Mapuche People and the Mapuche Communities of Panguipulli. This report can be found by clicking here. We are preparing a translation in spanish. 
On the same day, the werken visited the Norwegian NGO “Framtiden i våre hender” (The Future in Our Hands). This NGO is dedicated to monitoring the actions of Norwegian companies overseas and their central focus is respecting human rights, sustainable development and the environment. Norwatch, which is the news agency of the organisation, has closely followed the conflicts between the Mapuche communities and SN power in Panguipulli. Norwatch held an interview with werken Pedro Antimilla. The interview can be read by clicking here.
Seminar and launch of the report: “New Conquistadors?” SN Power: hydroelectric projects in Mapuche territory
On December 11th, the launching of the report was on the seminar agenda. The organisation responsible for this initiative was FIVAS (Organisation for the International Studies of Water), a Norwegian NGO which monitors and studies the activities of Norwegian companies in the water sector. The writer of the report is Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui, Mapuche, and expert in Development and Indigenous Peoples. 
The seminar was held in the centre of Oslo, in the buildings of FORUM, a common space for diverse Norwegian nongovernmental organisations. There the fundamental elements of this conflict, and the position and vision of the different parties, were presented. 
The seminar participants elaborated on the conflict from diverse perspectives. The anthropologist Silvia Schönenberger of the Observatory of Indigenous Rights in Temuco revealed the situation of the Mapuche People, in relation to the Chilean legislation and international standards. 
Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui presented the FIVAS report, and detailled his conclusions and recommendations, which were directed at three institutions: the Chilean State, the Norwegian State and the Norwegian company SN Power. We are preparing the translation to Spanish. 
Pedro Antimilla, werken of the communities in Coñaripe which oppose the projects planned by SN Power, presented the vision for development which the communities have, from an indigenous perspective, and the reasons why they oppose the construction of the hydroelectric plants in Mapuche territory. 
Nils Huseby, Director of SN Power for Latin America and Chile, revealed the process by which SN Power managed to obtain the Water Rights, together with their affiliate Centinela (of the Chilean Gustavo Pavez), who created the Hydroelectric company Trayenko S.A. Huseby referred to the Social Responsibility standars to which the company conforms during the process of developping its activities in Panguipulli. Huseby recognized the existence of conflicts and valued the analysis, conclusions and recommendations of the report, and insisted that the intention of the company was that of a due process of dialogue, admitting that there was much to be improved and understanding in order to create the appropriate conditions. 
María Lundberg, Adjacent Professor of the Centre for Human Rights, made a critical analysis of the report from a legal perspective, considering the diverse Declarations and Conventions which relate to Indigenous Peoples within the body of the United Nations. 
Following these statements was a debate panel in which the members of the seminar could ask questions and make comments. A large part of the inquiries were directed at SN Power concerning the conflict with the indigenous communities. 
The majority of the members of the seminar were from governmental institutions, NGOs, investigators and members of solidarity organisations (the Latin American Group of Norway). Appropriately, under those members were representatives of the Sami People, of the Sami Radio and Television, and the Latin American Radio of Oslo. 
The seminar allowed for the conflict between SN Power and the Mapuche communities to be understood in more detail and for a discussion to be opened based on the Collective Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to draw the attention of the state organisms, media and Norwegian organisations which are interested in the topic. 
After the seminar, the werken Pedro Antimilla was interviewed by the National Sami Radio, the Latin America Radio of Oslo and by written media, such as Development Today, an important Nordic magazine which covers Nordic investments in the development sector. 
Meeting with NORFUND 
Norfund is an Investment Fund for Development. This Foundation is under the control of the Ministry of Cooperation in Norway, and is the owner of 50% of SN Power. 
The werken Pedro Antimilla, the representative of the Observatory, the Director of FIVAS, Andrew Preston, and Miguel Utreras, writer of the report, met with three Norfund executives: Petter Vilsted, Bjørn Arnestad and Marc Davis. 
Norfund expressed its opinion of the report and evaluated it as a serious, balanced and constructive document. Norfund explained in short its way of working and the standards and regulations it requires of its investments, mentioning especially the standard 7 of the IFC of the World Bank. Norfund declared that they are aware of the conflict, that they trust that the executives of SN Power will perform their activities within the existing regulations, however recognize that they still need to improve and are thankful for the opportunity to hear the opinion of the indigenous communities directly from the werken. 
Norfund made a proposal in order to reinitiate the dialogue with the communities and declared that they were prepared to look for solutions in order to facilitate the improvement of the conditions for a dialogue. 
The representative of FIVAS stated that this proposal should be made in written form, in order to clearly demonstrate this intention. At the same time he mentioned the importance of constructing an atmosphere of trust between the parties, although this trust has already been completely broken. 
The werken Pedro Antimilla reiterated the opposition that the communities have against the construction of the hydroelectric plants in Mapuche territory and emphasized that the communities are not interested in a dialogue which is condicional to the execution of the projects and its preliminary studies, which means the execution of the plans and does not consider the consent of the those that have never been informed, nor consulted as is mandatory by international standards. The werken also declared that even if the Chilean State has not implemented these standards, the Mapuche people recognize them and apply them because they form part of their collective rights. The werken agreed that Norfund should make a written proposal, but emphasized that his role as werken was to experess the position of the communities, to whom he would present the document so that they will read it, study it and decide to give a response. 
Meeting with the Minister of External Affaires
On December 12th there was a meeting with the political adviser of the Minister of Cooperation and Environment, Morten Wasstøl,in the Ministry of External Affairs. A member of the latinamerican section of the chancellery also participated in the meeting. 
The adviser was thankful for the visit and made the position of the Ministry clear, which is as a delegator to Norfund, which receives state funds and corresponds to investments in the cooperation sector. 
The adviser made clear that the Ministry is following the conflict and considering it very seriously, made clear that his role is that of instructing the companies in order to assure that existing regulations are complied with. He also added that it is important that Norwegian companies which perform activities in indigenous territories must seriously consider the interests of the communities. 
With respect to the conflict, he only maintained that they will be following the case in the future, requesting information from Norfund about the case and hope that both parties will achieve a good dialogue. 
After this meeting, the Werken Pedro Intimilla and Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui were interviewed by the national Sami television. This interview was transmitted during the news of the National Norwegian News in Sami, on December 13th at 17.10. During the interview, werken Antimilla continually reiterated the position of the communities, and appealed to the Sami parliament to support the position of the communities in compliance with their collective rights. 
The Sami television and radio have amply covered the case and Sami representatives have expressed their interest in knowing more about the conflict and their solidarity with the Mapuche people and the communities in Panguipulli, which the Sami Parliament also did during the Ralco conflict in the Alto Bío Bío.
The representative of the NSR party, Aili Keskitalo, ex president of the Sami Parliament, declared that the Sami Parliament should support the communities and their demands. The current president of the Sami Parliament, Egil Olli, showed more reservations towards the case, because the case concerns External Affairs, but also added that the Sami Parliament has always been solidary with indigenous peoples. 

Thursday December 20th 2007
HISTORIC DOCUMENT SIGNED IN OSLO 
Below you will find the historic document directed at Pedro Antimilla and María Eugenia Calfuñanco, werkens (messengers) of the Coñaripe, Liquiñe and Carririñe communities, in which the vice president executive of  SN Power for Latin America, Nils Huseby, commitied to suspend the company´s activities related to its hydroelectric projects in Panguipulli, until a meeting at the end of January will take place, to listen to the opinion of the ancestral communities concerning its projects and finding the conditions for a possible dialogue. 
As mentioned above, this document was signed in Oslo, during werken Pedro Antimilla´s recent visit, as a representative of the communities, in order to put the minimal standards which exist concerning indigenous rights and consistent with those Norway respects for the Sami people, Convention 169 of the ILO (1990) and the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), into practice. In this meeting, Huseby recognized the errors which were made by the executives of  SN Power in acting with force and without the consent of the communities. 
We should stay alert to see if SN Power will definatively suspend its Latin American activities and the flow of vehicals and fieldworkers pursuing environmental and social impact studies. 
Be alert to see if the company is capable of fulfilling these agreements. 
The letter reads: 
Mr. Pedro Antimilla,
Werken of the indigenous communities of Coñaripe and Liquiñe and membre of the Mesa Pellaifa Newen, and
Mrs. María Eugenia Calfuñanco,
Werken of the communities of Carririñe
Oslo, December 12th, 2007
Dear Pedro and María Eugenia,
Thank you for a very constructive meeting at the offices of FIVAS in Oslo. With this letter I would like to sincerely reiterate the desire and commitment to meet with the representatives of the indigenous communities which you represent in Carririñe, at an hour and date suggested by you at the end of January 2008, in order to listen to your position concerning our projects and establish the base for a possible dialogue. I am hereby also confirming our commitment to maintain the current suspension of activities related to our projects in the municipality of Panguipulli until the said meeting has taken place. 
Sincerely,
Nils M. Huseby
Vicepresident Ejecutive for Latin America
SN Power
 
 

Feb 4, 2008
The ancestral communities affected by the hydroelectric projects in Panguipulli, after the meeting with executives of SN Power in Carirriñe on January 31st, 2008, declare the following: 

1. The meeting was the result of much effort made by many mapuche families of our communities, which independently assisted the meeting to present the rejection of the construction of hydroelectric plants by SN Power, a company which offered to listen to our concerns and suspend the project if they received opposition by the communities. 
2. In this meeting 14 lonkos (chiefs) of the ancestral communities were present, as well as more than 500 mapuches, which represent some 3000 people of our communities. Additionally, we were supported by the mayor, the entire municipal council, tourism entrepreneurs, neighbours and non-mapuche organizations.
3. The meeting was very well organized by our communities, where we clearly expressed our rejection of the projects and demonstrated that we are not terrorists.
4. Although the provincial government had assured us that there would not be a militarization of the zone, and that they would respect our own security measures, police entered our land in vans, as well as the special forces and various trucks were circulating the location.
5. Once again, we were victims of deceit by SN Power, who continues to confuse us and violate our collective and ancestral rights according to the international agreements which concern them. 
6. In the end, the meeting generated a document true to all that was said during the meeting by Nils Huseby, executive of SN power, and our representatives. However, Huseby refused to sign this document, in the presence of all, effectively repudiating the meeting he held with our communities. The document was signed by the lonkos (chiefs) and the mayor of the municipality, who has supported us in our rejection of the hydroelectric plants. 
7.  In violation of our rights, SN Power will continue with the studies it plans on performing in the area, they will continue to attempt to enter our territory without our consent, they will take advantage of the ignorance and necesities of many families, they will buy our conciences and our connection with the Ñuke Mapu (mother earth), they will mortgage the natural and environmental wealth of our people, provoking disagreements and conflicts within and between families.
8. The company is now acting in a discriminatory manner towards our families, as the meeting on the 31st of January was politically manipulated, as if our communities do not have their own free will, and they did not want to accept that we do not want their project, because we know that we stand to lose the little wealth that we have. 
9. The company intends to rob us of our water, the mountains, the forests, and we will not allow this to happen.
10. Our declaration and opposition is and will be peaceful, although during the meeting someone expressed his pain by saying that he is prepared to sacrifice his own blood in order to defend the ñuke mapu, the opinion of one cannot be used to generalize our legitimate defense, as the executives of the company had attempted by means of the press. It is the company that has given birth to the violence, when they imposed a new usurpation. 

We hereby make an appeal to the public opinion to support our communities. We are protecting the Mapuche territory and our cultural, natural, and spiritual patrimony of the world, in times that humanity should act in order to stop the destruction of nature, as this company intends to do. 
We also hereby make an appeal to the Chilean State to respect our ancestral rights over our territories and resources, who continues to see us as a flock of sheep which can be herded in any direction it pleases, and once and for all we are looking for serious alternative pathways to economic development, for our communities and our country. We know that the energy crisis is not our responsibility and we should not have to pay the costs for an unsustainable model. Which world will we leave our grandchildren, if we continue in this disturbing track to destroying our ñuke mapu?

The company has declared that it will continue working even though the communities oppose. They will continue their studies, even though the project is unviable, culturally and socially speaking. We do not want a conflict that will generate devastating consequences. The company is only persuing an economic end, they do not respect our people, they are not interested in our existence, the only thing that matters for them is the money. This is what was made very clear in Carirriñe. 

Finally, we reject SN Power and make an appeal to the Norwegian public, to the Sami people, to observe how this company is acting as one of the worst colonizers, making our mapuche people suffer once again. 

Ancestral Community José Calfuluán
Ancestral Community Juan Antiqueo
Ancestral Community Vicente Piutrillan
Ancestral Community José Neculfilo
Ancestral Community Vicente Reinahual
Ancestral Community Juan Painepe
Ancestral Community Juan Calfuñanco
Ancestral Community Cachim Palituhue
Ancestral Community Juan Quintuman
Ancestral Community Valeriano Cayicul
Ancestral Community Carlos Antimilla