Mexican peasants win rare victory over US-backed damn project

In this Nov. 4, 2014 photo, the sun begins to set over the "Cerro de Oro" dam in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico. When the U.S. government backed construction of a new hydroelectric plant in southwestern Mexico, residents rose up and defeated a three-year, $30 million project supported by the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corp. in Washington. It marked a rare instance of a community fighting off development in a country where projects are often pushed through over local objections. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

In this Nov. 5, 2014 photo, a large crack in the wall is visible behind the stove in Luz Maria Montor's kitchen in Santa Ursula, a town in the municipality of Tuxtepec in Oaxaca state, Mexico. When the U.S. government backed construction of a new hydroelectric plant in southwestern Mexico, residents rose up and defeated a three-year, $30 million project supported by the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corp. in Washington. It marked a rare instance of a community fighting off development in a country where projects are often pushed through over local objections. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

In this Nov. 5, 2014 photo, a cat lounges on the floor of an empty restaurant in the Los Reyes community, in the municipality of Tuxtepec in Oaxaca state, Mexico. When the U.S. government backed construction of a new hydroelectric plant in southwestern Mexico, residents rose up and defeated a three-year, $30 million project supported by the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corp. in Washington. It marked a rare instance of a community fighting off development in a country where projects are often pushed through over local objections. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

In this Nov. 5, 2014 photo, Luz Maria Montor washes her hands in her kitchen in Santa Ursula, a town in the municipality of Tuxtepec in Oaxaca state, Mexico. When the U.S. government backed construction of a new hydroelectric plant in southwestern Mexico, residents rose up and defeated a three-year, $30 million project supported by the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corp. in Washington. It marked a rare instance of a community fighting off development in a country where projects are often pushed through over local objections. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

In this Nov. 4, 2014 photo, a fisherman works in the waters of the "Cerro the Oro" dam in the town of Tuxtepec, Mexico. When the U.S. government backed construction of a new hydroelectric plant in southwestern Mexico, residents rose up and defeated a three-year, $30 million project supported by the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corp. in Washington. It marked a rare instance of a community fighting off development in a country where projects are often pushed through over local objections. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

In this Nov. 5, 2014 photo, Luz Maria Montor shows a turtle that was rescued in Santa Ursula, a town in the municipality of Tuxtepec in Oaxaca state, Mexico. When the U.S. government backed construction of a new hydroelectric plant in southwestern Mexico, residents rose up and defeated a three-year, $30 million project supported by the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corp. in Washington. It marked a rare instance of a community fighting off development in a country where projects are often pushed through over local objections. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)