PROTEST IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE YANOMAMI PEOPLE
Telephone:(202) 387-3500
Facsimile:(202) 234-6049
EcoNet edf
Internet wild@edf.org or edf@igc.apc.org
Date: August 25, 1993
The massacre by goldminers illegally occupying indigenous land of perhaps
dozens of Yanomami Indians in the Brazilian rainforest last week will be
marked by a silent protest vigil tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in front of the
Brazilian Embassy, 3006 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
We have received a "message to the whole world" from Yanomami chief Davi
Kopenawa, recent recipient of a U.N. Global 500 Award, calling for "a
campaign in all countries" against the massacre. The protest vigil is being
held in response to Davi Yanomami's appeal, which we reproduce below:
" This is a message to the whole world. I appeal for help
to the Yanomami people. I don't know the exact date. A
massacre occurred in the area of the Haximu village, done
by goldminers. Two malocas (the circular common house of
the Yanomami people) were burnt and everything was
destroyed: hammacks, arrows, pots were broken through by
bullets and burnt. They were hired guns, paid by somebody.
On the second day I went to the camp, in a place called
Tapiri', where people from that village used to live while
staying out in the forest. The goldminers came and killed
two whole malocas. I found many signs of bullets, calibre
12 and 20. I found two bodies, bones, one head with signs
of bullets. Other bodies disappeared. We found signs of
chuteira (a typical shoe used by goldminers) along the
creek. Only goldminers wear chuteira.
I am asking for a campaign in all countries against the
massacre and also to send many letters to the Brazilian
Government, asking for urgently removing goldminers from
the Homoxi area and the whole border area. I also ask to
the government to destroy the airstrips. There are two of
them still operated around here. Please ask for capture of
the criminals and prosecution. I am, as Yanomami chief,
very disgusted.
I am not taking part in the search of other bodies, I stay
here without doing anything. Other people are doing this
work so that they can say that Indians lie. We, the
Yanomami, know better than they do. That is why I wanted
to participate in the search to find the bodies, and they
didn't allow me to do it and go with them. I am sad
because local parliamentarians from Boa Vista are
manipulating this event.
Davi Kopenawa Yanomami"
The tone that we hope to convey at the vigil will be one of somber mourning.
Participants are encouraged to wear black, although it is certainly not
necessary. By protesting we hope to encourage the Brazilian government to:
* Conduct a thorough and open investigation (with the participation
of Yanomami representatives) of the recent tragic events and
bring the perpetrators to justice.
* Remove all goldminers from the demarcated Yanomami Park and
ensure that the Park will be protected from illegal invasions.
* Destroy illegal airstrips inside the Yanomami Park.
* Act expeditiously to physically and legally demarcate all other
indigenous lands in accordance with the Constitution of Brazil.
Views expressed in this fax/email message/flier do not necessarily reflect the
views of the authors' employers.