The invasion is taking place in the area of the Arara-Uakaranma
people, in the state of Para. According to information received from
the Prelate of Xingu, grups of 20 or 30 persons are slowly arriving
and marking the bounds of lots to live in. In addition to the Mayor of
Medicilandia, the vice-mayor, a councilmen, and a settler are involved
in the operation. The Prelate of Xingu suspects that the leader of the
invaders, Constante Trzeciak, president of the Union of Rural
Producers, is encouraging the despoliation, taking advantage of a
preliminary decision of a court which rejected the Reposession Suit
filed by the Department of Justice against him.
A confrontation between Indians and non-Indians may break out at
any moment. The Prelate of Xingu is demanding urgent mesures and has
denounced the case to FUNAI, to the Federal Department of Justice, to
the Federal Police, to the Ministry of Justice, and to the Minorities
Commission of the Chamber of Deputies.
COMMISSION DISCUSSES DEMARCATION
After almost five years being considered at the Chamber of
Deputies, bill n. 260/90, already approved by the Senate, began to be
more fully discussed. On the 25th, the Minorities and Environment
Commission of the Chamber of Deputies held a public audience to check
the position of institutions dealing with Indian issues on the
above-mentioned bill. Representatives from CIMI, Isa (Socio-
Environmental Institute), the Ministry of the Army, Funai, and the
Office of the Attorney General attended the audience. The bill deals
with acts of relevant interest of the Union which, according to the
exception provided for in paragraph 6 of Article 231 of the Federal
Constitution, can be carried out in Indian lands. CIMI proposed
amendments to the bill, as it believes that it is not appropriate and
calls for mechanisms to protect the communities which may be affected
by it.
The point, however, was not discussed in detail and the debated
focused on the demarcation of Indian lands. The Ministry of the Army,
represented by colonel Leslie Alcoforado, was the main target of
questions raised during the discussions because of the restrictions
the military impose on the demarcation of Indian Areas located next to
the border. Skilfully, Alcoforado declared that the Army is not
against the demarcation of Indian lands, but suggested that the
Brazilian society should discuss the size of areas such as Yanomami
and Raposa/Serra do Sol. In CIMI's opinion, the position of the
military is, to say the least, ambiguous, as its recognition of Indian
rights is only formal, and not practical. According to CIMI,
questioning the size of Indian areas is questioning Indian rights.
Brasilia, April 27th, 1995.
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council