Update 61 - CEDI
So Paulo, July 17, 1992
We are retransmitting CCPY's most recent report on the
situation of the Yanomami.
"So Paulo, July 15, 1992
CCPY UPDATE 58
Pressures against demarcation continue
If the Brazilian government took a long time to ratify the
demarcation of Yanomami land, it was because it was under
great pressure within Brazil not to do so at all. Indeed,
President Collor ratified demarcation of the area on the eve
of the Earth Summit to gain maximum international publicity
and in implicit recognition that international pressure was
what moved him to it.
In spite of ratification, and in the context of the imminent
discussion by Congress of the Indian Statute, the lobby
demarcation faces active resistance, spearheaded by the
armed forces and local politicians.
Two bills have recently been submitted to Congress for
approval. The first, presented by Deputy Francisco
Rodrigues from the State of Roraima, questions the
constitutionality of Ministerial Decree 580 that defined the
continuous land area of the Yanomami that was demarcated
last May. The bill is now in the hands of the Committee on
Minorities and the Environment. Chances are that it will
not be approved by the Committee.
The second, presented by Christian Democrat Jair Bolsonaro
of Rio de Janeiro, who is strongly identified with the
interests of the armed forces, has not yet been evaluated by
the Committee on Minorities and the Environment and the
Committee seems to be letting the matter ride; it is not
seen as an agenda priority.
The military continue to allege that the demarcation of
Yanomami land is unacceptable because it covers extensive
territory along the international border and is therefore
prejudicial to national security. However, demarcation was
carried out to fulfill Article 231 of the Constitution; as
the Attorney-General's Office continues to affirm, to
reverse the ratification would therefore be
unconstitutional. As for national security, the armed
forces have outposts at Surucucus, Auaris and Maturaca
within Yanomami territory along the border.
2
It is hard to tell whether the pressure exercised against
the demarcation is intended to revise Yanomami territorial
rights or whether it is mainly aimed to undermine the Indian
Statute now being discussed by Congress.
3
The Earth Summit
The Earth Summit was particularly important to the Yanomami
because it gave the final impetus for ratification of their
land. Indeed, pressure from members of the US Congress,
European heads of state, politicians and intellectuals to
demarcate and halt the genocide caused by invasion and
illness was the moving force behind demarcation; the UNCED
Conference crystallised this pressure.
Three Yanomami went directly from the ratification ceremony
in Brasilia on May 25 to the Global Forum, devoting most of
their time to the world indigenous conference at the Kari-
Oca and the Earth Parliament. The three were Davi Kopenawa
Yanomami, Levi Hewakaxima Yanomami and Geraldo Kuesithere
Yanomami. Both Davi and Levi are shamans. Levi was
travelling outside Yanomami territory for the first time.
Both the Kari-Oca conference and the Earth Parliament were
aimed at congregating indigenous people from all over the
world. The latter aimed specifically at creating a
permanent forum of indigenous peoples constituted by
indigenous and non-governmental organizations.
Unfortunately, this aim was not fulfilled. As Davi noted in
a message to the Earth Parliament, indigenous peoples are
under great pressure from whites and indigenous
fragmentation weakens their position.
The Yanomami continue to receive the support of European
governments, expressed in the course of events in Rio.
Baroness Lynda Chalker, the British Minister of Overseas
Development, announced on June 8 her government's intention
to grant a further US$300,000 to the Demini Health Project.
After a meeting with Davi Kopenawa Yanomami the Minister of
Development of Norway, Ms. Grethe Faremo, stated Norway's
interest in continuing to support the Yanomami's struggle
and specifically the health project.
Dutch NGOs which also support the Yanomami suggested to the
artist Huub Kortekaas that he give a sculpture entitled "The
Golden Seedling" to the Yanomami as a symbol of the Dutch
people's respect for the struggle of indigenous peoples to
maintain their cultures and the integrity of the natural
environment. Mr. Jan Pronk, Minister for Development
Cooperation, presented the sculpture to Davi Yanomami. The
Dutch embassy will find a suitable place for it in Brasilia.
The sculpture is part of "The Unifying Field", a worldwide
art project by the sculptor Huub Kortekaas symbolizing a
changing awareness of spiritual and natural life.
4
New invasions
During the UNCED Conference CCPY was advised of a new and
continuing invasion of Yanomami territory. FUNAI says that
there are at least 1,000 miners on Yanomami land in the
Aracaa and the Upper Catrimani River areas and on several
points in the Parima Mountains. Food stocks were dropped
from small monomotor planes and FUNAI employees that work in
the territory say they have seen and heard planes flying
over practically all of the government watchposts in the
Yanomami territory in Roraima. During the first week of
July, four monomotor planes were impounded near Yanomami
territory. Altino Machado, the miner leader and owner of a
plane that was arrested inside the Yanomami territory, was
formally charged with infringing the law. He will be tried
by the Federal Court in Roraima. His passengers were
miners, including one who was implicated in the murder of a
Yanomami at Olomai last year. Though the scale of the
invasion is not what it has been, the CCPY fears that unless
the government reacts promptly the invasion will be hard to
stop. It is still possible, if there is the political will,
to reverse the situation. But without funding to rent
helicopters or the cooperation of the Air Force, the
situation could go out of control as it did in 1987 and we
can foresee that several tens of thousands of miners will
invade Yanomami land.
Comissao pela Criacao do Parque Yanomami - CCPY
Rua Manoel da Nobrega 111 cj.32
04001-900 Sao Paulo SP Brasil
Tel.: (011) 289-1200/251-5260
Fax : (011) 284-6997"