Because of land conflicts, Guajajara Indian Manuel Mendes, 46 was
killed with a rifle shot fired, according to other Indians, by Jaime
Jardim, an invader of the Krikati Indian Area, located in the state of
Maranha~o. According to the daughter of Manuel Mendes, her father had
been receiving death threats for some time. The conflict with the Indians
was enhanced as of December, when invaders prevented a team of technicians
from demarcating the Indian territory, where the Krikati Indians live.
The krikati Indian Area should have been demarcated in July of 1992,
when the minister of Justice issued a directive determining the measure.
However, because of pressures from local politicians, invaders, and the
family of ex-president Jose' Sarney, the demarcation which the Army began
to carry out in 1993 was interrupted.
The lands of the Krikati have been illegally occupied by about
twenty farms and a village. In December of last year, when once again
technicians were sent to the area to demarcate it, the invaders burned
bridges and blocked their access to the Indian land. This week, at the
ministry of Justice, one of the Krikati leaders who are in Brasilia
asked: "Who is the boss after all: the Sarney family or the federal
administration?"
YANOMAMI KILL MINERS
A miner was killed and three others were wounded in a confrontation
with Yanomami Indians on the 11th of last month. According to the
miners, the Yanomami were carrying bows and arrows and a 12 caliber rifle.
After spending several days in the forest hinding from the Indians, the
miners managed to reach a FUNAI (National Indian Foundation) station.
The three wounded ones were taken to a hospital in Boa Vista, capital
of the state of Roraima, and one of them died on the 18th. There are
about 150 miners inside the Yanomami territory. The Yanomami resent
the presence of miners in their lands.
MAKUXI VERSUS THE MILITARY POLICE
The Makuxi Indians, who also live in Roraima and who on the 7th of
this month were beaten by military policemen who invaded the Raposa/Serra
do Sol Indian Area, may suffer new acts of aggression. Dozens of
policemen have remained in the Caraparu II village and have threatened
to use their guns against the Indians who want to reoccupy the area
to prevent the building of a power station. The building of the power
station is a project of the government of Roraima, which has been
using the Military police to ensure the beginning of the works.
Brasi'lia, January 19th, 1995
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council