"Indigenous activists threatened a clash with Brazil's government as they dispatched boats carrying 150 men on Wednesday to occupy the planned site of a controversial hydro-electric dam in the Amazon, a chief said.

Environmentalists, indigenous groups and local residents lost a protracted court battle to halt the bidding process for the giant Belo Monte dam, projected to be the world's third-largest.

Brazil awarded the tender on Tuesday to Norte Energia, a consortium led by a subsidiary of state electricity company Electrobras, which will hold a 49.98 per cent stake in the project.

"Boats are in the process of leaving and we hope to occupy the territory tomorrow (Thursday). We will build a permanent village there and will not leave so long as the project is on," chief Luiz Xipaya told AFP."

AFP had the story April 22, 2010. [2]

See Also:

"Giant Amazon Dam To Go Ahead Amid Chorus of Protest" (Sydney Morning Herald) [3]