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NEWS FROM BRAZIL supplied by AGEN (Agencia Ecumenica de Noticias)
and Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz.
Number 101, October 21, 1993
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INDIGENOUS ISSUES
- Majority in Congress Wants to Reduce Size of Indigenous
Territories.
A recent poll of senators and federal deputies taken by the
"Folha de S.Paulo" showed that 47% of the members of Congress
want to reduce the size of indigenous lands in Brazil.
Only 29% of Congress believe that the current extension of
indigenous areas should be kept, 1% said that the areas should be
larger, 7% want to discuss each area case by case, 5% defend the
redefining of the areas in function of the indigenous population,
and 11% did not respond to the poll, or presented other
proposals.
CIMI, the Catholic Church's Indigenous Missionary Council,
expressed concern over the results of the survey. "Congress's
position indicates that indigenous people run the risk of hiving
their rights, especially their right to land, excluded from the
Constitution. There are even proposals in the Chamber of
Deputies which call for demarcation to be defined by the
legislative branch; currently this is a function of the executive
branch. Approval of this type of proposal would make demarcation
even more difficult.
"Congress cannot reduce the territories inhabited by indians.
The Constitution establishes what is indigenous territory;
demarcating it only indicates the territory's limits. This means
that the rights of indians to their lands is independent of
demarcation and is even prior to the Constitution itself. What
members of Congress are wanting to do is unconstitutional."
- CIMI President Denounces to President Franco Lack of Action
on Demarcation.
Bishop Aparecido Jose Dias, president of the Indigenous
Missionary Council (CIMI), sent an "open letter" to the President
of the Republic, Itamar Franco, expressing his preoccupation with
the lack of setting of boundaries of the indigenous lands. After
making a study of the situation of the indigenous peoples, Dom
Aparecido said in his letter, "In this grave historical moment
which the country is passing , Mr. President, where transnational
economic interests with their Brazilian allies plan to undo the
gains citizens have won with an unacceptable constitutional
revision and where the life of the people is exposed to
unbearable limits and complete lack of security, we state: 1) our
indignation at the government's lack of interest for the
indigenous peoples and the lack of setting boundaries for their
lands; 2) our continued support for these peoples and the
continuing struggle to set boundaries and guarantees for the
indigenous lands."
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