from "el diario/La Prensa," a Spanish language newspaper published in
New York City. Translated and edited by Toby Mailman.
Venezuela/Brazil
WAITING FOR EVIDENCE ON YANOMAMIS
Venezuelan government discounts possibility that
some deaths occurred in its territory
Venezuela is waiting to receive evidence that an alleged massacre of
Yanomami Indians by illegal Brazilian miners (Garimpeiros) might have
taken place in its territory, Venezuelan ambassador to Brazil
Sebasti n Alegrett said on August 29.
"As long as there is no evidence, Venezuela cannot admit that
some deaths attributed to the garimpeiros occurred in our territory,"
Alegrett told AP.
The National Indian Foundation (Funai) issued a report by
Canadian anthropologist Bruce Albert, who works for the Commission
for the Creation of the Yanomami Park, according to which along the
Amazon border there have been a number of massacres of Yanomami
Indians, one of the last tribes to maintain a lifestyle similar to
that of the stone age.
The first attack by the secret miners, according to Albert, is
said to have occurred at the head of the Haximu River in Venezuelan
territory, leaving a total of five Indians dead.
Another 13 Indians were said to have been killed in additional
attacks on the Brazilian side of the border. Funai issued a list of
73 possible victims, although later investigations are said to have
shown that the quantity could be exaggerated.
Albert said in his report that Yanomami survivors cremated the
corpses of the dead in various pyres which were located between the
banks of the Haximu and the village of Makos, in Brazil, 80
kilometers from each other.
Alegrett said in an interview that the Venezuelan and Brazilian
governments are in permanent communication regarding the events, and
that Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorim promised more complete
official information in regard to this case within the next few days.
Alegrett said that Venezuela repeated its complete willingness
to cooperate with Brazil in what is "considered necessary to clarify
the facts," and emphasized the "reciprocal transparency and
confidence" which characterizes relations between the two countries,
which have a common border in the uninhabited jungle.
Brazilian press reports said that the massacre could have
occurred on the Venezuelan side of the border and that the authors
could be members of the National Guard of that neighboring country.
Alegrett indicated that Venezuelan president Ram"n Vel zquez
appointed a commission of experts to travel to the border to carry
out their own investigation, led by Dr. Charles Brewer Car!as,
veteran explorer of the Amazon regions and expert on the Yanomamis.
The Brazilian federal police believe that the authors of the
massacre probably have taken refuge in Venezuelan territory, along
the edge of the Orinoco River.
It is estimated that some 9,000 Yanomami Indians live on the
94,000 square kilometer reserve in Brazil, and than there are another
11,000 in Venezuela.
That Indian zone in Brazil is rich in gold, diamonds and various
minerals, having been invaded during recent years by white
adventurers who, in addition to illegally extracting the minerals,
are endangering the Indians by passing on contagious diseases to
them. (ed-LP 8/30/93 from AP)
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