The genocide of the Yanomami began in the early 70's, when the
first invasions of the Indian territory by miners were registered. Since
then, about 2,000 Indians were killed. The Brazilian government allowed
this genocide to happen, as shown by the data listed below:
1974: the Perimetral Norte highway, a road cutting the Yanomami
territory, begins to be built. The area is invaded by hundreds of
workermen ; in the three-year period that followed, influenza, measles,
and tuberculosis claim the lives of over 80 Indians. Soon after that,
the results of the Radambrasil Project, which surveyed the mineral potential
of the Amazonian soil, are published. The survey indicates the existence
of large quantities of uranium, gold, diamonds, and tin ore in the
Yanomami area.
1975: about 500 miners invade the Surucucus mountain range, an
Indian land, looking for tin ore. The governor of the State of Roraima,
Ramos Pereira, supports the invasion and says that "a rich area cannot
permit itself the luxury of preserving half a dozen Indian tribes hindering
the development."
1978: FUNAI (National Indian Foundation) signs a covenant with
mining company Vale do Rio Doce for the exploitation of tin ore in
Yanomami lands. The covenant is suspended.
1979: the appointed governor of Roraima, Ottomar de Souza Pinto,
announces as he is sworn into office that the top priority of
his administration would be to resume the mining for tin ore.
1980: the minister for Mines and Energy, Ce'sar Cals, issues
licenses authorizing two mining companies to carry out research on
titanium deposits in Yanomami lands. A group of miners is detected
inside Yanomami lands located in Amazonia.
1981: about 2,000 miners invade the area again, this time looking
for gold. Governor Ottomar Pinto insists that the formal prohibition to
carry out mining activities in these lands should be lifted. In
November, eighteen Yanomami Indians die of measles in Amazonia.
1982: five Yanomami are murdered by miners in a region near the
Catrimani and Apiau' rivers. More and more, outbreaks of diseases
area registered among the Indians.
1983: FUNAI signs with Codesaima, a company operated by the government
of Raraima, a covenant for carrying out research and mining for ores in
the Indian area.
1984: Mozarildo Cavalcanti, federal deputy for Raraima, presents a bill
to the Chamber of Deputies proposing that mining for tin ore should
be permitted in part of the area. An Yanomami is shot on the back by a miner
at the Catrimani river.
1985: 44 miners headed by businessman Jose' Altino Machado invade
Surucucus and subdue at gunpoint four army soldiers and a sargeant who
were guarding the area. They are expelled by Army, Federal Police, and
Military Police troops. After being arrested, Altino Machado says he
would repeat the operation. Soon after that, miners invade the northeast
region of the territory. Deputy Mozarildo Cavalcanti presents a bill to
the Chamber of Deputies providing for the exploitation of tin ore in
Yanomami lands by authorization of the Executive Branch.
1986: Altino Machado deposes before the Chamber of Deputies and says
he will fight for the miners to remain in the area.
1987: the Brazilian government launches a campaign affirming that
the demarcation of the Yanomami lands is a pretext for the Indians to
establish an independent state. The propaganda is an attempt to justify
the implementation of the Calha Norte Project. The military commander of
the Amazonian Region, general Antenor Santa Cruz, says that the presence
of miners in the Indian area "plays a strategic role in the occupation of
the national territory." Four Yanomami of the Paapiu' area are clubbed,
stabbed, and shot to death by miners.
1988: miners kill nine Yanomami. The ex-president of Funai, Romero
Juca' takes office as governor of Roraima and says he will ensure the
security of the 20 thousand miners who invaded the Indian area. The
government cuts the Yanomami territory into 19 discontinuous areas,
one national park and two national forests, leaving 76% of the
traditional Yanomami territory out of the demarcation. Four Indians
are murdered by the invaders the following year.
1990: miners kill two Indians. The president of the Republic, Jose'
Sarney, creates the Araricoera and Catrimani-Couto Magalha~es
mining reservations inside Indian lands. The extermination of 15% of
the Yanomami population, about 2 thousand Indians, in the two previous
years because of diseases brought by the miners is denounced.
1991: the reinvasion grows. FUNAI mentions 1 thousand miners. Ottomar
de Souza Pinto takes office as the new governor of Roraima, and continues
to support the invasion.
1992: about 2 thousand miners invade the area again. At least 150
Yanomami die of diseases. An Indian is murdered.
1993: in August, FUNAI denounces the massacre of 73 Yanomami.
Brasi'lia, August 27, 1993
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council