Makuxi, Wapishana, Taurepang Indigenous peoples'leaders contacted SAIIC to
request international support on the long due Raposa-Serra do Sol Indigenous
Territorial Demarcation. The Macuxi, Wapisha and Taurega belong to the
Roraima Indigenous Council, CIR-Brazil.
Las May 18, 1993, Mr. Sidney Possuelo, the former FUNAI President (Govern,
Indigenist organization), submitted to Mr. Mauricia Correa, Minister of
Justice, a historical-anthropological survey on the Raposa-Serra do Sol
Indigenous Territory dubbed AIRASOL. The report proves the Indigenous Peoples
rights to their territory. After the report was published in the Brazilian
newspaper "Diario Oficial", legal procedures for the demarcation of AIRASOL
were laid down. However, up to now the Minister of Justice did not forwarded
the AIRASOL report to President of Brazil Itamar Franco. Until the report is
signed by President Franco, the AIRASOL demarcation process cannot start.
Reaction in the State of Roraima (Brazil). The "Diario Oficial" publication
of the report drew forth an anticipated violent reaction by Roraima politicians,
businessmen and the military establishment. During the past few months
Roraima media offered a skewed description of recent facts and of the
Indigenous Peoples claim to their territory. The historical and antropological
report done by FUNAI has been criticized and mocked at. There are lost of
economic interests at stake and thousand of people involved in the Indigenous
territorial dispute: land owners and businessmen who invaded Makuxi, Wapishana,
Ingariko and Taurepang region long time ago, gold and diamond prospectors,
polluted rivers, culture destruction and threats to the Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous Communities who inhabit the AIROSOL region are determined to fight
for their Indigenous Human Rights. In the Maturuca mountain region, on
November 1992, three Indians communities expelled diamond prospectors from
their land. Other communities forced small-cattle owners to leave the AIRASOL
region.
Mr. Claudio Romero, FUNAI President, visiting Roraima Indigenous Leaders on
04/08/93, emphasizes his commitment to the territory AIRASOL demarcation,
denounced harassments and violences against Indian communities and assured
them the Federal Police will force the gold and diamond prospectors out of
AIRASOL region.
By OCTOBER 5, 1993, as stated by the Brazilian Constitution, all Indigenous
Peoples must have their territory demarcated. Up to now, less than 30%
of the Indigenous peoples territory has been demarcated. It is urgent to
coerce the Brazilian Government to comply with its own law and delimit before
OCTOBER 5 the Indigenous territory which FUNAI itself has already approved.
At the beginning of September 1993, a delegation of ten Indigenous leaders
went to Brazilia in order to see the Minister of Justice, and ask him to
send AIRASOL's report to the President of Brazil.
Indigenous leaders also denounced that last July 93, joint US.and Guyanese
armies exercised on the border of Roraima. Fearing imminent US invasion,
the Brazilian President allowed the military to spend US$ 500,000.00 on a
16-radar-system (SIVAN) that should detect illegal flights throughout the
Amazon. This military hubbub could undermine the Indigenous Peoples of
Roraima efforts to get their lands demarcated before October 5, 1993.
On August 1st, 1993, at Maturuca village--inside AIRASOL region-military
troops carried out war exercises in the midst of the Makuxi hamlets with
machine guns and hand granades.
CALL FOR ACTION:
We the Makuxi, Wapishana and Taurepang, and Ingariko Indigenbous Peoples, are
facing a decisive date of our history: the demarcationn of our territory.
With your help we can make it!
Send letters of Support to:
Conselho Indigena de Roraima CIR.
Ave. Benjamin Constant 1509 V V
69300 BOA VISTA,
Roraima,
Brazil
pHone 55-95-224-5761
Send letters to
President Itamar Franco
Presidencial Palace
Brasilia, Brazil