A survey carried out by FUNAI (National Indian Foundation), the agency
responsible for the Indianist policy of the Brazilian government, shows
the present situation of Indian lands in the Country. Of a total of 532
Indian lands, only 51%, or precisely 266 land areas, have been demarcated.
Of these, 198 were homologated, that is, had their demarcation confirmed
by a decree issued by the President of the Republic. Before this survery,
it was believed that there were 519 areas.
Altogether, Indian lands comprise 909,705 km2 , or 11% of the
Brazilian territory. Demarcated areas total 462,625 km2. The figure for
the Indian population is about 250,000. Many land areas have not been
demarcated so far mainly due to the lack of political will of the
Brazilian government, which gives in to pressures from economic and
political groups that are against the measure.
MURDER
The nondemarcation of Indian lands has been exposing Indians to
different acts of aggression. On the 17th of this month, Macuxi Indian
Bento Sampaio, 69, was murdered by a cowkeeper hired by farmer Jose'
Saraiva. Conflicts over the possession of the land caused the incident.
The crime was committed in the Raposa/Serra do Sol Indian Area, in the
state of Roraima, whose demarcation process is stuck at the Ministry of
Justice, to which it was referred months ago for its decision.
The Macuxi was clubbed to death. After killing him, the cowkeeper,
drunk, raped Bento Sampaio's wife. According to the Indians, the Macuxi
had received several death threats before he was actually murdered. The
day after the crime, saveral Macuxi went to the farm, captured the
cowkeeper and delivered him to the police. A federal judge sentenced
him to prision.
According to CIR (Indian Council of Roraima), an organization made
up of all Indian peoples of the state, eight Indians of the Raposa/Serra
do Sol area were murdered in the last eight years by farmers, cowkeepers,
and miners. None of the killers was actually convicted of murder. The
newspapers of Roraima have been announcing that there will be a
"bloodshed" if the area is demarcated.
Brasi'lia, May 26, 1994
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council