After malaria, cholera may be become the next disease to infect
the Yanomami Indians. Two men who were prospecting for gold in the
Cauaburis river, which cuts the Indian area, became seriously ill
and were hospitalized with symptoms of the disease. The gold
prospectors, who until recently were carrying out their prospecting
activities in the Neblina Peak National Park, partially located in
the Yanomami territory, are now inside the Indian area.
If cholera infects the Yanomami, the outbreak of the disease
will rapidly spread and become a more serious problem than malaria,
which this year has killed over 150 Indians. All the water used by
the Indians comes from rivers and it would be difficult to treat
this water. Moreover, according to the National Indian Foundation
(FUNAI), there is no local infrastructure to take care of chorela
patients.
Although the figures are not accurate, it is estimated that there
are at least 2 thousand 500 persons in the Cauaburis river, including
men, and children. The Yanomami population in the region amounts to
approximately 3 thousand Indians. According to a survey carried out
by a commission made up of representatives of the Army, the Military
Police and FUNAI, there are about 200 gold-prospecting motor-rafts
parked in this river. Dozens of motor-boats transport food and fuel
to the place daily.
In addition to being invaders, the gold prospectors are harming
the environment. Mercury is being used in large quantities to wash the
gold, contaminating the river, into which gasoline, diesel oil and
lubricant residues are also spilled. The commission that visited the
region saw that the gold prospectors are deforesting a strip along the
Cauaburis to build large huts.
According to the Brasilian Constitution, gold prospecting
activities are forbidden in Indian lands. In order to be allowed to
carry out these activities in the Neblina Peak park, the gold
prospectors would have to request the authorization of the competent
federal agency and submit an environmental impact study. But they
completely disregard these requirements. However, the city hall of
the municipality of Santa Izabel do Rio Negro illegally authorizes the
gold prospectors to operate there in exchange for a payment of 18
grams of gold, with an additional monthly charge of 32 grams per
raft. According to the commission, the person who is coordinating the
gold prospecting activities is the mayor of Santa Izabel do Rio Negro,
Jose' i Ribamar Beleza, supported by the government of the State of
Amazonas.
IBAMA, the agency in charge of the environmental policy of the
Brasilian government, has a project to remove the gold prospectors from
the Cauaburis river area. However, there are no funds available to
implement it. Meanwhile, the Yanomami are more and more exposed to the
risk of falling prey to another disease.
Brasilia, December 16th, 1992
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council