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NEWS FROM BRAZIL supplied by AGEN (Agencia Ecumenica de Noticias)
and Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz).
Number 94. September 2, 1993
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INDIGENOUS ISSUES
- New version of the Yanomami massacre released
A new version of the Yanomami massacre of three weeks ago,
in the Amazon, was released by the Federal Police, the Globo
Television Network and the newspaper "O Globo".
According to the police,and French anthropologist Bruce
Albert, the number of people killed was 16 and not 73, as the
National Indian Foundation (Funai) had said initially. The
massacre reportedly occurred in Venezuelan territory and not in
Brazil.
The Yanomami people live in 'malocas' or large huts that are
to be found on both sides of the Venezuelan-Brazilian border.
The tone of the reports is a clear attempt to exempt the
Brazilian government from any kind of blame and especially to
exorcise the word "genocide" from the whole debate on the
massacre.
To understand that the Yanomami massacre is not just an
isolated incident, the Missionary Council for Indigenous Peoples
(CIMI) published a note recently, in which they retrace the
chronology of events that make it clear that these indigenous
people, the Yanomami, are being annihilated.
The note states that this "genocide" began in the 70's, when
the first miners invaded the indigenous territories. Since then,
around two thousand indians have been killed. "This genocide is
happening only because the Brazilian government has and is
permitting it", declares the statement.
Some of the facts mentioned by CIMI are as follows:
1974 - The construction of the Perimetral Norte Highway is
begun, which cuts through the Yanomami territory. The invasion of
the area by hundreds of road workers provokes the deaths of 80
indians within three years, victims of 'flu, measles and
tuberculosis.' Soon after, the results of the Radambrasil
project, a survey on the mineral wealth of the Amazon sub-soil,
are published. The survey shows large deposits of uranium, gold,
diamonds and cassiterite on the Yanomami lands.
1975 - Around 500 miners invade the Serra de Surucucus,
indigenous land, in search of cassiterites. The governor of
Roraima, Ramos Pereira, supports the invasion and says that "a
rich land" can't "afford to preserve half a dozen of indian
tribes and hold back development".
1978 - FUNAI sign an agreement with the state mineral company,
"Vale do Rio Doce", for the exploration of cassiterite in the
Yanomami territories. The agreement is suspended.
1979 - The appointed governor of Roraima, Ottomar de Souza
Pinto, declares during his term that the highest priority of his
government is to be the reopening of the cassiterite mines.
1980 - The Minister for Mines and Energy, Cesar Cals,
authorizes two mining companies to search for titania in the
Yanomami area. A group of miners are found on Yanomami land in
the Amazon.
1981 - Almost 2000 miners invade the area, this time in
search of gold. The governor, Ottomar Pinto, insists that the
indian lands be liberated for mining. In November, 18 Yanomami
die of measles in the Amazon.
1982 - Five Yanomami indians are murdered by miners in the
region of the rivers Catrami and Apiau. Several diseases are
already widespread among the indians.
1983 - FUNAI sign a contract with Codesaima, a state company
belonging to the government of Roraima, to research and explore
minerals on indigenous lands.
1984 - Federal Deputy Mozarildo Cavalcanti from Roraima,
presents a bill in Congress to open up part of the indigenous
area for the mining of cassiterite. A Yanomami indian is shot in
the back by a miner on the Catrami river.
1985 - 44 miners, led by a businessman, Jose Altino Machado,
invade Surucucus and hold up a sergeant and 4 soldiers from the
army, who are protecting the area. The miners are expelled by the
Army and the Federal and Military Police. Arrested, Altino
Machado says he will try again. Deputy Mozarildo presents his
bill again to Congress.
1986 - Altino Machado gives evidence at a congressional hearing
and states he intends to fight for the right of the miners to
stay in the area.
1987 - The Brazilian government starts a campaign, stating
that the demarcation of the Yanomami territories is a pretext for
the indians to form an independent state. The propaganda is
an attempt to justify the Calha Norte project, a military
occupation of the Brazilian frontiers in the Amazon. The
military commander in the Amazon, General Antenor Santa Cruz,
declares that the permanency of the miners in the indigenous
areas "is of strategic importance for the occupation of the
traditional lands". Four Yanomami from Paapiu are brutally killed
by miners.
1988 - Miners murder nine Yanomami. The ex-president of FUNAI,
Romero Juca, takes over the governorship of Roraima and affirms
that he will guarantee the safety of the now 20 thousand
miners who invaded indian lands. The government divided the
Yanomami territory into 19 discontinuous areas, a national park
and two forests. 76% of the traditional Yanomami land is left out
of the demarcation. In the following year, four indians are
murdered by the invaders.
1990 - Miners kill two indians. President Jose Sarney creates
two mining areas, Uraricoera and Catrami-Couto Magalhaes on
indigenous lands. The extermination of 15% of the Yanomami
population, around 2 thousand indians, through diseases brought
in by the miners, within the last two years, is denounced.
1991 - The re-invasion grows. FUNAI talks of one thousand
miners. Ottomar de Souza Pinto is elected governor of Roraima and
continues to defend the invasions.
1992 - Around 2 thousand miners return to invade the area. At
least 150 Yanomami die because of diseases. One indian is
murdered.
1993 - FUNAI denounce the murder of 73 Yanomami. This number
is later reduced to 16.
- Roraima Diocese publish letter on Yanomami massacre
The diocese of Roraima published an official note on August
24, signed by Bishop Aldo Mongiano, concerning the massacre of
the Yanomami indians that took place there.
The note explains that while many aspects about what really
happened to the Yanomami at Haximu are still unclear, the matter
demands a serious and thorough investigation. "The facts about
Haximu cannot and must not be seen in isolation", says the note.
"It's important to remember other recent occurrences, no less
grave - houses burnt down, killings and imprisonment of indians
in the "malocas" (large huts) of Santa Cruz, Uiramuta, Carapuru,
Miang and Paapiu" - many of which were described by the Citizen's
Action group, in the 1989 document, "Roraima: a warning of
death".
The sad news from Haximu once again reveals the consistent
antagonism felt against the indigenous people of this land".
The note from the Diocese of Roraima points out some of the
characteristics of the Haximu massacre: A whole village was wiped
out; the indians were defenseless; According to the few who
survived, the indians were murdered in a cruel way, women,
children and old folks, cut down with machetes.
"What was the reason for such a crime?" asks Bishop Mongiano.
"To terrify the indians? Challenge the authorities? Genocide?
And who hid the bodies? Why? Was it vengeance? An explosion of
savage instincts? Was it to guarantee impunity?"
"We can think of some reasons for this cruel act", continues
Dom Aldo. "A worsening poverty that afflicts the majority with
economic structures that oppress and impoverish more and more; a
lack of an overall plan for the development of Roraima that would
give priority to the social well-being of its people; the
complicity between politicians, military and economic interests
to act against the indigenous peoples; the federal and state
government's lack of willingness to secure the indian's rights;
Certain sectors of the media in Roraima that encourage violence,
condone illegal activities, ridicule and defame those who work to
defend the country's Constitution; a general refusal to see the
indian as a human being, with rights and self-determination,
ignorance of and little appreciation for the indigenous cultures
and total lack of respect for their right to be different".
All of this, according to Dom Aldo, leads to public opinion
being badly informed, and leading people to believe, wrongly,
that the solution for Roraima's economic problems lies in the
gold and mineral mines; that the indians and their territories
are holding back Roraima's progress; that those who support the
cause of the indians are against Brazil's and Roraima's well-
being and that international forces are trying to take control of
the Amazon.
"Together with all those of good will and all the groups who
defend human rights, the diocese of Roraima reaffirms its
position in favor of street children, the exploited workers and
miners, migrants and indigenous peoples, the black community and
women. The diocese repudiates the hideous massacre and continued
genocide of the Yanomami as a crime against the indigenous
peoples, the Brazilian nation and humanity".
The note appeals to the authorities to carry out a full
investigation and demands: a just punishment for the criminals;
the demarcation of all indian territories; the withdrawal of all
miners from indian reservations; the elaboration of an ample and
alternative development plan for Roraima that takes into account
not only agricultural production and industrialization but also
health and education; and finally that article 231 of the Federal
Constitution, which says that the social organization, customs,
beliefs and traditions of the indians and their original rights
over the lands they have traditionally occupied, are to be
recognized and determining the it is the responsibility of the
Federal government to demarcate these lands and protect the
rights of the indians.
D. Aldo concludes by saying, "A country's richness is its
people and the different cultures within its borders. We must
above all, defend the right to life".
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