The president of Funai, Marcio Santilli, disappointed a caravan of
20 Xavante Indians who in the morning of February 12 visited the
agency to request health care in their villages. With their bodies
painted for war, they wanted the Indianist agency to explain why it
has failed to provide an adequate care so far. Outraged with
Santilli's passiveness, however, they pushed the president and other
directors of the agency to the garage of the building, where for over
an hour they held a tense conversation, protesting and denouncing the
lack of assistance to the villages. In the afternoon, they tried to
meet the minister of Justice, Nelson Jobim, but were instead received
by the head of his cabinet, Jose Gregori, to whom the Xavante
requested Santilli's dismissal. The claims of the Indians were seen by
Funai as a ``reaction against the elimination of certain privileges''
which the new administration has been promoting. This position was
immediately rejected by the Council for the Articulation of Indigenous
Peoples and Organizations of Brazil (Capoib), which in a letter to the
press has denounced the corruption of leaders as an old practice of
the Indianist agency.
According to Capoib, the Indians are not demanding unreasonable
benefits, but rather that the State fulfill its duty. It also said
that indigenous leaders are worried with reforms being promoted in
Funai, as they are not being discussed with indigenous communities. In
Capoib's opinion, Funai's reference to benefits is shameful, as for
decades the agency has specialized in coopting Indians to overlook
undue benefits enjoyed by certain directors. ``The State has always
been interested in making sure that the Indians continue to be seen as
dependents and ignorants.'' The actions of the Indians, some of which
have been drastic, are ``a consequence of the genocidal policy that
has been adopted in Brazil,'' they denounce. This is the fourth time
this year that indigenous peoples take hostages to draw attention to
their claims. In a meeting held on the following day, Funai announced
that R$ 10,000 (around US$ 10,000) will be applied in projects to be
implemented in indigenous communities. The Xavante who attended the
meeting, around 40, do not believe in this promise.
VICTORY IN VOTING ON LDB FOR EDUCATION
The approval by the Federal Senate of the bill for the Law on
Directives and Bases (LDB) for Education on February 8 represents a
victory for the indigenous peoples of Brazil. The new text included an
amendment proposed by senator Benedita da Silva (Workers' Party-Rio de
Janeiro) based on a proposal made by Cimi to include an article in it
ensuring indigenous peoples the right ``to a specific, differentiated,
and intercultural school education, according to the linguistic
universe of each people.'' According to the bill, indigenous peoples
will have a school education that respects their costumes, beliefs and
traditions. The participation of indigenous communities, organizations
and similar entities in the definition of this education was also
ensured. The Union will be responsible for offering this indigenous
school education. The bill will now have to be passed by the Chamber
of Deputies before it can become a law.
Brasilia, February 15, 1996
Indianist Missionary Council