The right to a land to live in will continue to be one
of the main concerns of Indian peoples in Brazil in 1994.
This year, territorial rights may be reduced during the
constitutional review already in course. Congressmen,
governors, jurists and mining companies intend to
restrict, if not eliminate altogether, rights presently
provided for in the Constitution.
Jurist Clo'vis Ramalhete, a retired minister of
Supreme Justice Court, proposed the elimination of the
Chapter of Indians from the Constitution. Without any
grounded reasons, he says the constitutional provision is
"sectarian, radical, and anti-national." The jurist
actually intends to question the demarcation of Indian
lands and the concept of their original rights over them.
The distinction between "culturally adapted" and
"nonadapted" Indians was once again defended by admiral
Mario Cesar Flores, secretary to the Presidency of the
Republic for Estrategical Affairs. According to him,
"smaller areas should be demarcated for culturally Indians
and larger ones for those who have not adapted themselves
to the national culture." Based on this distinction,
Indian lands would be reduced and then occupied by
economic groups without any restriction.
The opposers of Indian rights claim that Indian
peoples already have a lot of land. But it is a fallacy to
relate the number of Indians to the amount of land they
occupy. The use of the land is based on social
considerations and on the concepts of each Indian society
regarding labor and the utilization of natural resources.
That is why the land is fundamental to ensure the survival
of the Indians. Indian peoples cannot continue to exist
without their territory.
Indian lands are not the cause of the Brazilian land
problem, which will only be solved after a land reform is
carried out in unproductive land areas. A survey carried
out by INCRA (National Colonization and Land Reform
Institute) showed that 40.86% of the Brazilian territory
is occupied by idle land areas, that is, areas which, in
spite of their potential, are not being exploited in any
way by their owners. Therefore, the argument that the
demarcation of Indian lands can jeopardize the development
of Brazil is groundless.
Brasi'lia, January 7th, 1994
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council