During an audience granted to the president of CIMI, Dom
Apparecido Jose Dias, on the 9th of this month, minister of Justice
Nelson Jobim said that the federal administration will deploy Army
units to ensure the demarcation of the Krikati Indian Area, located in
the state of Maranhao. In recent weeks, there were serious conflicts
in the Area, during which an Indian, Manuel Mendes, was murdered, on
January 17th. The conflicts were caused by pressures against the
demarcation from governor Roseana Sarney and politicians who defend
the interests of non-Indian invaders of the Indian land. Resorting to
violence, these politicians have prevented teams hired by the National
Indian Foundation (FUNAI) from carrying out the demarcation,
authorized by the ministry of Justice in July of 1992.
During the audience, ministrer Jobim told the president of CIMI
that the office of the Attorney General of the Union will submit the
demarcation of the Raposa/Serra do Sol Indian Area, where the Makuxi,
Wapixana, Taurepang, and Ingariks Indians live, in the state of
Roraima, to the National Defense Council for deliberations. This
unnecessary procedure resulted from pressures from military sectors,
because the area is question in located on the border between Brazil
and Guyana. Conflicts have also been registered in this area, because
the governor of the state of Roraima, Neudo Campos, insists on
building a dam for hydroelectric purposes inside the Indian territory.
This action is illegal, since it has not been authorized by the
National Congress, as provided for in the Constitution.
One day before the audience, the Secretary-General of the ministry
of Justice, Milton Seligman, asked the Federal Police to protect the
lives of Krikati leaders, who have been threatened to death, and also
of priest Mario Guinzone, of the president of the Rural Workers'
Union, and of members of the Indianist Pastoral Group of the Diocese
of Ji-Parana, which is active in the municipality of Aripuana, state
of Mato Grosso. These persons support the demarcation of the Arara do
Rio Branco Indian Area and have been threatened to death for this
reason. Farmer Luis Almeida and the president of the City Council of
Aripuana, Altamiro Girardi, are leading the pressures against the
demarcation. According to secretary Seligman, the Federal Police will
escort the team hired by FUNAI in its demarcation activities.
Brasilia, February 13th, 1995
Indianist Missionary Council - CIMI