ITALIAN COMPANY IN BRAZIL DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN INVADED INDIAN LAND
The Agip Petroli company, a branch of Enter Nazionali Idrocarburi
(ENI), controlled by the Italian government, occupied an area belonging
to the Xavante Indians and refuses to give it back to them. In a
meeting held this week in Brasilia between the Indians and the
ministry of Justice, the representatives of Agip said that the Xavante
will only have their land back if the Brazilian government buys or
expropriates it. The Xavante have been out of this area since 1966
because of conflicts with invaders.
In June of last year, Gabriele Cagliari, then president of the
company, announced during UNCED-92 in Rio de Janeiro that the area
would be returned to the Indians the following month. Today, the
representatives of Agip say that they cannot take such a measure
because the company does not have assets of its own, since it is a
joint-stock company. For this reason, they argue, it would have to be
indemnified or sell the land.
What Agip Petroli is asking is prohibited by the Brazilian
Constitution, which provides that any occupation or possession of
Indian lands is not legally valid and not subject to indemnification
payments either. The company could only be indemnified for
improvements made to the land. What the Brasilian government should
do is ensure to the Xavante the repossession of their lands.
If Agip Petroli refuses to return the territory to the Xavante,
a campaign may be launched in Europe to put the gasoline produced by
the company under boycott. The boycott would be promoted by the
North-South Campaign, which is a forum of nongovernment organizations
and green Italian congressmen.
The invasion of the Xavante territory, which is called Maraiwatsede
and is located in the State of Mato Grosso, in the Center-West region
of Brazil, began in the 50's by small groups of squatters. Later,
farmer Ariosto da Silva took control over the area and named it
Suia'-Missu farm, which is how it is known today. In 1962, Ariosto
associated with the Ometto group with the aim of investing in
cattle-raising activities. In 1972, the farm was sold to Liquiga's do
Brasil, the company from which Agip bought it in 1981.
The area comprises 168 thousand hectares and is fully occupied by
the farm. Its demarcations process was started by the National Indian
Foundation (FUNAI), but was interrupted because of Agip's refusal to
give it back to the Indians. In spite of the position of the company,
the Xavante may return to the area at any moment.
Brasi'lia, May 13th, 1993
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council