The Council for the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples and
Organizations of Brazil (Capoib) reacted strongly against the
decision of the minister of Justice, Nelson Jobim, published in
the Official Newspaper yesterday (July 7), to review the bounds
of eight indigenous areas based on Decree 1775/96. "The decision
of minister Jobim is consistent with the provisions of Decree
1775/96, which was prepared by him and will lead to the genocide
of indigenous peoples in Brazil," Capoib denounced.
These eight areas (Evare 1 and Suruini-Mariene, in the state
of Amazonas; Raposa/Serra do Sol, in the state of Roraima; Bau
and Apyterewa, in the state of Para; Sete Cerros, in the state of
Mato Grosso do Sul; Kampa do Rio Envira, in the state of Acre;
Krikati, in the state of Maranhao) were included in a list of 34
indigenous areas whose size was contested by economic and
political groups which want to reduce them under the provisions
of Decree 1775/96 and whose claims for this purpose were rejected
by the minister of Justice because they lacked any legal grounds.
However, the minister tried to soothe these anti-indigenous
interests requesting a review of the most coveted areas, which in
practice represents a new attempt to reduce those territories.
They were, however, demarcated in strict compliance with
constitutional provisions and therefore this new maneuver of
minister Jobim makes no sense.
The accounts given by 20 indigenous leaders, members of the
Capoib's board who eyewitnessed conflicts and threats from
invaders in conflict areas, show very clearly that the situation
is very serious. They came to Brasilia to try to speak to the
minister of Justice, who refused to receive them again. During a
meeting yesterday of the Minorities Commission of the Chamber of
Deputies, the leaders said that they will not accept any decision
to reduce their lands and warned that Jobim's measures will
enhance the conflicts. Capoib received words of support from many
entities and members of Parliament from Brazil and abroad,
particularly from the European Parliament, who warned the
Brazilian government that it will not accept any reduction in
indigenous lands, particularly in the ones whose demarcation is
being funded by the governments represented in it.
PATAXO INDIANS REJECT PLANS TO BUILD MUSEUM
The Brazilian government, eager to celebrate the 500th
anniversary of Brazil's "discovery" in the year 2000, has plans
to build the Discovery Museum inside an area that belongs to
the Pataxo Ha Ha Hae Indians, disregarding constitutional
rights which ensure that people the exclusive possession of the
area. Three indigenous areas are at stake and the Assembly of the
state of Bahia approved a decree to expropriate all the Coroa
Vermelha area. Yesterday, a delegation of Pataxo leaders
announced during a meeting with the minister of Culture, Wladimir
Murtinho, that they are against the project to build the Museum
and the removal of any indigenous communities from the area. The
delegation also denounced the authoritarian attitude of federal
and state agencies pushing for the project, which refuse to hear
what the Indians have to say about it. They warned that it will
cause serious damages to indigenous communities and to the
environment, as the museum is part of a larger tourist project to
be implemented in the region by the government of Bahia, which is
disregarding studies on its social and environmental impacts.
Murtinho said that he was not aware of the damages, but he
insisted that the museum will be built whether the Indians like
it or not.
Brasilia, 11 July 1996
Indianist Missionary Council