Farmers who are against the demarcation of the Xucuru de Ororuba
Indian Area, located in the state of Pernambuco, shot to death FUNAI's
lawyer Geraldo Rolim da Mota, who for many years was a legal adviser
to Indians. The crime was committed on Sunday, the 14th, after many
death threats. Since May 10, Rolim was monitoring the physical
demarcation of the area. The land traditionally occupied by the
Xucuru, whose bounds were defined in a ministerial decree issued in
May 1992, comprises 26,980 hectares, 90% of which have been invaded by
farmers, settlers, and the Peixe food industry. The Xucuru are now
worried that the farmers might try to kill Chief Chicao too.
In spite of the tension, FUNAI has not suspended the placement of
markers indicating the boundaries of the area. Meanwhile, a group of
Indians is in Recife denouncing the crime and asking the participation
of the Federal Police in the investigation, so as to avoid the
impunity of the murder.
The pressure against the demarcation of the Xucuru area is strong.
As soon as it began to be carried out in practice, federal deputies
from Pernambuco met the minister of Justice, Nelson Jobim, and asked
him to suspend it. The Xucuru, however, are determined to ensure the
demarcation and organized sectors of the society are supporting their
constitutional right. In the city of Pesqueira, the climate is one of
fear.
MEETING IN RAPOSA/SERRA DO SOL
Because of the acts of violence that have been repeatedly
registered in the Raposa/Serra do Sol Indian Area, the Macuxi,
Taurepang, Ingarico, and Wapixana Indians called a meeting between
representatives of the public power and Indian communities to be held
on May 19-20 at the Maturuca village, in the state of Roraima.
The Indians want to protest against the fact that two years after its
identification, the bounds of the land have not been officially
defined by the government for demarcation purposes.
They also denounced the attempt to build the Cotingo Power Plant
and, more recently, an agreement between the government and the Army
that was characterized as an intervention in the area which defied
even human rights. After it was assigned to replace the Military
Police in the duty of preserving the law and the order in the area,
the Army is actually serving interests which are not in tune with
those of the Indians and repressing their action to ensure their right
to the land, expressly provided for in the Constitution.
The Indians invited representatives of the Office of the
Attorney-General, ministry of Justice and Environment, Funai,
Commission for Minorities and Human Rights of the Chamber of Deputies,
CNBB, the government of Roraima, the Legislative Assembly, and of
entities that support the Indians to take part in the meeting. Its
goal, according to a note issued by the Indian Council of Roraima
(CIR), is to define a definitive solution ensuring the rights of the
Indians to the demarcation of their land, to assistance, and to
sustainable development projects based on their specific needs.
Violence, however, is expected to be one of the main topics to be
discussed. The Indians have been systematically denouncing arbitrary
acts against them and have officially requested that the Army leave
the area.
Brasilia, May 18, 1995
Indianist Missionary Council - CIMI