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YANOMAMI UPDATE
Contact: Zeze/Christine 212-674-4646
Sue Ann Bailey 407-684-8100
SUGGESTED COURSES OF ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE YANOMAMI MASSACRE
PRESS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS:
In light of the enormous number of phone calls received
by Amanaka'a over the past week in response to the massacre of
over 40 Yanomami Indians by gold miners in the Brazilian Amazon,
Amanaka'a urges all concerned groups and individuals to take one
or more of the following actions:
Amanaka'a will keep office hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern
time until Wednesday, August 25 to answer questions and provide
additional information. After that, daily updates and background
information will be provided during regular office hours. We
encourage the press to cover protest vigils coming out around the
country. So far, the following are scheduled:
NEW YORK: SILENT PROTEST VIGIL.
Wednesday, August 25, 12 to 2 p.m.
Brazilian Consulate, 630 Fifth Avenue.
Participants should wear black. Urucum will be provided for those
wishing to paint their faces. People should bring cardboard
signs, identifying their organizations and/or affiliations. There
will be Native American drumming. As an expression of sadness,
people are encouraged not to speak or eat at the event. Amanaka'a
organizers will have a green arm band on their left arms. Please
refer only to them during the event. For more information, call
Amanaka'a at 212-674-4646.
SAN FRANCISCO: PROTEST ACTION
Wednesday, August 25, 12 noon
Brazilian Consulate
For more information call Beto Borges at the
Rainforest Action Network (415) 398 4404.
WASHINGTON: MEETING WITH THE BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR
Thursday, August 26, 11 a.m.
Brazilian Embassy
For more information call Fernando Allegretti at the
Environmental Defense Fund (202) 387 3500.
ORGANIZATIONS:
Encourage your members to join us in one of the protest vigils
mentioned above. All organizations are asked to participate with
as many people as possible. Otherwise, organize something at
your Senator or Representative's offices. Please be in touch so
we know what is happening all over the United States.
A group letter to President Franco has been signed by over 60
organizations and individuals. Organizations should continue
calling Amanaka'a until the evening of Tuesday, August 24, to
join us in this collective effort. Final copies of the letter
will be delivered to Brazilian Consulates and the Embassy during
the Wednesday and Thursday events.
Organizations are also encouraged to fax individual protest
letters to: the Brazilian President, Dr. Itamar Franco at fax:
011-55-61-226-7566; the Brazilian Minister of Justice, Dr.
Mauricio Correa, fax: 011-55-61-321-5145; and a letter of
support to Davi Kopenawa Yanomami and his people. Letters to Davi
can be faxed to Amanaka'a at 212-674-9139, or to CCPY in Brazil
at 011-55-11-284-6997. It is important that we receive copies of
all letters, so that international solidarity can be properly
acknowledged.
INDIVIDUALS:
If you live in the Washington, New York or San Francisco areas,
please come to the above mentioned actions. People living close
to other Consulates should organize visits to the Brazilian
Consul and send letters to President Franco on August 25. If you
cannot go, call the Consulate and send us a note on the action
you took.
If you live far from a Brazilian Consulate, go to the offices of
your Congresspeople on August 25. Ask them to manifest support to
the Yanomami people by writing to the Brazilian authorities and
to Davi Yanomami. Make sure they send us copies of all letters.
If you cannot go, call your Representative and write us to record
what you did.
MAKE SURE YOU MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH US SO THAT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS
CAN BE COORDINATED. KEEP ACTIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE YANOMAMI AT
THIS MOMENT OF EXTREME SUFFERING AND SADNESS FOR DAVI KOPENAWA
AND HIS PEOPLE.
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LETTER TO THE WORLD FROM DAVI KOPENAWA YANOMAMI
IN RESPONSE TO THE MASSACRE OF HIS PEOPLE
FUNAI Indigenous Post
Demini, Amazonas Brazil
August 19, 1993
Communicado from Davi Kopenawa Yanomami*:
I would like to inform the world that the murder of my people
continues. A large number of Yanomami, including men, women, and
children, were just killed by garimpeiros (gold miners) in
villages located in the area of Homoxi and Xidea.
This has already happened several times since the first massacre
in Paapiu in 1987. But, no one has ever been arrested or even
punished for these acts.
I am revolted that they want to kill all my people. I want the
Brazilian government to take the necessary measures now for the
definitive withdrwal and removal of all the garimpeiros still
working on Yanomami lands.
The criminals responsible for these murders must be tried and put
in prison. Not only them, but also the gold mining contractors
and the politicians who support the garimpeiros and encourage
them to fight the Yanomami must be tried!
All the Yanomami are very worried by this massacre because it
could happen to them, too - in Catrimani, in Demini, in
Toototobi, in Posto Yano, in Araca, and in other remote villages
which do not have a FUNAI post, or a religious mission, or a
National Health Foundation representative.
These are my angry words over what has just happened.
Signed: Davi Kopenawa
* Transcribed by Gale Goodwin Gomez.
Received by Amanaka'a on August 20, 1993.
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GROUP LETTER TO PRESIDENT FRANCO*
August 20, 1993
Dr. Itamar Franco
President
Federal Republic of Brazil
Fax: 011 55 61 226 7566
Your Excellency:
We the undersigned are outraged with the recent massacre of Yanomami
people in the Brazilian state of Roraima, Northern Amazon.
We were informed that at least 40 people, including men, women and
children were killed by gold miners this past week in the region of
Homoxi-Xidea, within the boundaries of the legally demarcated Yanomami
Park.
We see this action as a violent demonstration of disregard for
Yanomami life. We are concerned that this most recent wave of violence
occurs at a time when the military and politicians seem to be trying
to take away the right of indigenous peoples to live in peace on their
lands. This clear act of disrespect for the Brazilian justice system
by the goldminers in Roraima will only encourage further violence if
not punished.
We urge you to take immediate action in order to permanently expel the
thousands of miners who are illegally working within Yanomami
territory. We strongly encourage you to establish a permanent
monitoring system to prevent recurring encroachments. Continuation of
this genocide against the Yanomami people is unacceptable.
We therefore request that you use the power of your position to
immediately order the investigation and proper punishment of all
people involved with this act. We expect you to guarantee justice for
the Yanomami, and reaffirm your government's commitment to protect the
human rights of all Brazilians.
Sincerely,
* This letter has already been signed by over 50 organizations. A
final copy will be delivered to the Brazilian Embassy on Thursday,
August 26, 1993. Please let us know before then if you want to join
us. A list of organizations is avaliable upon request.
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