Thousands march in Argentina against pulp mill in Uruguay

Argentine opponents of Finnish-built plant on border river joined by handful of Uruguayans

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The national flags of Argentina and Uruguay waved in the air on Sunday as tens of thousands of people took part in a demonstration in the Argentine border city of Gualeguaychú against the Finnish paper manufacturer Metsä-Botnia, and the pulp mill that it is building in Fray Bentos on the Uruguayan side of the river that forms the border between Uruguay and Argentina.
     The demonstrators demanded that Botnia move its plant away from the river.
     "We are here opposing an economic model that does not support the interests of our nations. The factory is also illegal, because its construction violates the river treaty between our countries. Botnia will never get a social building permit from Gualeguaychú", said Eduardo Goméz, one of the demonstrators.
     This time the focus of the action was on Botnia; The Spanish company Ence decided last autumn to build its pulp mill elsewhere.
     
The focus of opposition to the Botnia plant has shifted in the past couple of years. Earlier the main objection was environmental. Now there is a greater emphasis on the social impact. A year ago the opponents demanded that Botnia suspend construction until an independent environmental assessment is completed. Now the demand is to shut down the whole plant.
      Javier Villanueva, cultural secretary of Gualeguaychú had a proposal that he said would compensate Uruguay for the loss of the pulp mill. Although construction of the gigantic plant is almost complete, he believes that moving it to another location is still possible.
     "We know that the residents of Fray Bentos have a great need for work. The jobs that would be lost could be compensated for with furniture industry, agriculture, tourism, or other sectors that rise up from local starting points", Villanueva visioned.
     
There were rumours on both sides of the border, according to which there were plans to launch an assault on the pulp mill. Fray Bentos called in police reinforcements from around the country. However, the protest remained peaceful.
     Sunday's demonstration against Botnia was the third in Argentina within a week. Opponents of the pulp mill protested last week at the Buenos Aires book fair and in front of the Finnish Embassy.
     Sunday's march included a few dozen Uruguayan opponents of the pulp mill.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Argentina to demand that pulp mill be moved (2.4.2007)
  Solution to paper factory dispute between Argentina and Uruguay more remote than ever (7.3.2007)
  King of Spain to mediate in Metsä-Botnia pulp mill dispute (6.11.2006)
  Argentine opponents of Botnia pulp mill bring case to Finland (30.8.2006)
  Uruguay government reiterates support for Metsä-Botnia (30.5.2006)
  Metsä-Botnia gives Argentine journalists tour of Finnish pulp industry (22.5.2006)
  European Union backs Metsä-Botnia in pulp mill dispute with Argentina (21.4.2006)
  World Bank: No environmental hazard from planned Uruguay pulp mills (13.4.2006)

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