MILITARIES ASSAIL INDIANS AND
MISSIONARIES IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA
In the Brazilian State of Roraima, located in Amazonia,
Indians are often assailed by militaries, who usually
have friendly relations with invaders of Indian lands.
Recently the violence has been also affecting
missionaries working in Indian communities.
A week ago, six military policemen stopped a car that
was transporting a nun and a couple of Makuxi Indians
with two kids. The Makuxi Indian was forced to take off
his clothes and was searched by the soldiers. The women
were taken to a nearby bar, stripped of their clothes
and searched by the owner.
Two weeks earlier, Makuxi professor Sobral Andri and
priest Giorgio Dal Ben had their car intercepted by
three vehicles, occupied by six men who identified
themselves as military from the Army. One of them,
yelling, asked priest Dal Ben to show him his
documents. After that, they violently searched the car,
Dal Ben and the Makuxi Indian. A letter that was found
inside the car, addressed to a missionary, was opened,
read and transcribed by one of the men.
According to the Diocese of Roraima, the act of
aggression was committed by a paramilitary group which
claimed to belong to the Army to intimidate the priest
and the Makuxi professor. In the opinion of the
Diocese, acts such as these cannot be allowed to
continue. They are illegal actions which harm the
dignity of both Indians and missionaries.
Earlier this month, the Brazilian Armed Forces
initiated military maneuvers involving five-thousand
soldiers in the Raposa/Serra do Sol Indian Area, which
is inhabited by Makuxi, Wapixana, Taurepang and
Ingariks Indians. A war was simulated against an
imaginary country located in the area. According to
general Jose' Sampaio Maia, commander of the operation,
the maneuvers were aimed at showing the armed potential
of Brazil and at training soldiers in war operations.
During the operation, the Indians were not allowed to
leave their homes.
The demarcation of the Raposa/Serra do Sol Indian Area
was interrupted due to contrary pressures. According to
the military, the demarcation would jeopardize Brazil's
sovereignty, as the Indians could claim independence.
These militaries, however, ignore the Constitution,
which states that Indian lands belong to the Union.
Brasi'ia, October 21, 1993
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council