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NEWS FROM BRAZIL supplied by AGEN (Agencia Ecumenica de Noticias)
and Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz.
Number 88, July 22, 1993
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INDIGENOUS QUESTIONS
- CIMI denounce murder of two Indians in Maranhao
The Missionary Council for Indigenous Peoples (CIMI) has
denounced the murder, of two Guajajara indians, that took place
in Maranhao, during the first week of July.
The indians were murdered by 2 colonists. A third indian was
badly beaten and is in a serious condition in a hospital. According
to CIMI and the national Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB),
five Guajajara Indians have been killed in Maranhao over the last
two years. The crimes are generally related to conflicts provoked
by the invasion of indian territories.
In response to the assassinations, the indians burned down 14
houses in the colonist's village and took food and cattle.
- Indians, Church and Human Rights groups demand miners be
taken out of Alto Rio Negro region
According to a court order issued by the federal judge, Marcos
Augusto de Souza, the miners who are illegally occupying indian
territories in the Alto Rio Negro region of the Amazon, on the
Colombian frontier, have to be removed immediately. For this to
happen, the Federal Police or even the army must take action.
This message was sent on July 15, to the Minister for Justice,
Mauricio Correa, by the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of
the Alto Rio Negro (FOIRN), the Social Ministry of the diocese of
Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazon and the Center for the Defense
of Human Rights in Sao Gabriel.
The message reminds the minister that the court order was
given 43 days ago and nothing has been done so far and that the
miners occupying the indigenous lands, "have already created
serious problems for the population and for the natural
environment of the region".
Messages of support can be sent to:
Presidente da Republica, Dr. Itamar Franco,
Palacio do Planalto,
70150-900, Brasilia, DF;
Ministro da Justica, Dr. Mauricio Correa,
Ministerio da Justica,
Esplanada dos Ministerios Bl. T,
70064-900, Brasilia, DF.
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