Bolivian Activists Arrested, Threatened with Deportation for Protesting Madeira Dams

Four Bolivian activists, representatives of farmers and womens' organizations in the Pando border region, were arrested today by Federal Police at a noontime demonstraton in Porto Velho, Rondônia against the Madeira River dams. They are being threatened with deportation.

The four represent the Pando Campesinos Federation and the Bartolina Sisa Campesinas Womens' Federation. Among those arrested is Manuel Lins, who signed the Interamerican Human Rights Commission complaint against the Brazilian government on behalf of the Pando group. Doris Dominguez, Isaias Ferreira and Jean Dominguez were also arrested.