Are the results of a local vote legally binding on the national government?
This is an important question, and the general answer is that they are not. If the people to be affected by the proposed project are indigenous, international law requires that they must provide “free, prior, and informed consent” before a project can go forward. The meaning of this phrase is subject to intense debate, but while it is generally accepted that indigenous people must be provided with all information and be allowed to participate in decisions that affect them and their lands, there remains disagreement over whether they have actual “veto” power.
