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NEWS FROM BRAZIL supplied by SEJUP (Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz)
Number 150, October 13, 1994
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--Indigenous policy of new president.
The following is a statement released by the CIMI on Oct. 7,
1994.
THE INIGENOUS POLICY OF THE NEW PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL
The president-elect of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso,
already has a basic program for the Indigeouns policy of his
administration. The program is quite vague and allows for various
interpretations. It mentions respect for cultural pluralism and
ethnical indentities, but also contains elements that may lead to
a policy of integration of Indian peoples, which is not in tune
with the Federal Constitution. The counting of votes is not over
yet, but the figures suggest the victory of Fernando Henrique
Cardoso, who presents himself as a social-democrat, in spite of
having allied himself with the most conservative sectors of the
country.
According to the program, "alternative ethno-development
strategies" must be defined "incorporating the participation and
cultural traditions of Indian communities". The problem is that
ethno-development may ultimately lead to the integration of
Indian peoples into the non-indian society, even if some of their
cultural elements are preserved and bring benefits to the
national society. It is up to the State to decide which cultural
aspects are to be respected. In this process, the fate of the
Indian peoples is subjected to the interests of the State.
The program also mentions that "the State should contribute
toward the development of Indian peoples". Such policy could
mean, for example, that the Indians would be necessarily
integrated into the market, that is, they would not have the
alternative of deciding on their own future any more. It could
also mean the gradual integration of Indians into the national
society until they are fully absorbed by it, that is, until they
lose their differentiated identity.
The program of Fernando Henrique Cardoso incorportated some
of the proposals made by CIMI, an agency linked to the CNBB
(National Conference of Bishops of Brazil), for an indigenous
policy for the next federal administration, which was sent to all
candidates for the Presidency of the Republic. However, the
perspective of his program is not the same as that of CIMI, which
defends an indigenous policy according to which ethnical
diversity, rather than integration, should form the foundation of
the relationship between the State and Indian peoples.
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