20 February 1997
PRESS RELEASE by Guyana Human Right Association
BRAZILIAN GOLD RUSH SPILLING OVER
Manoeuvres in the Raposo/Serra do Sol region of Roraima State across the
border in Brazil are likely to stimulate another wave of Brazilian miners
into the Pakaraima mountains. Exclusion of five gold mining settlements in
Raposo/Serra do Sol from final demarcation of Amerindian lands has turned
these settlements into magnets for itinerant miners from other parts of
Brazil. In particular, 'Operation Yanomami' is expected to clear 2,000-3,000
miners from the Yanomami lands, for whom Raposo/Serra do Sol will be the
most attractive next stop. The last large-scale eviction from Yanomami lands
saw the incursion of thousands of miners into the Rupununi savannahs and
Pakaraimas mountains.
The recent upsurge of activity in Brazil follows the publication of the
infamous 1775 Decree which has given settlers, miners and ranchers the right
to challenge demarcation of lands. According to Survival International,
these developments are linked to President Cardoso's re-election campaign.
A Survival Release of January 17 states that the two Federal Deputies of
Roraima State Roberio Araujo and Francisco Rodrigues told the newspaper
Follia de Boa Vista on January 9 that their support for President Cardoso
depends on 'benefits', chief among which will be allocation of chunks of the
Raposa/Serra do Sol reservation to ranchers and miners. "President Cardoso
seems to renege on constitutional guarantees affirming the rights of Indians
to occupy their land in order to buy off the crucial mining and ranching
votes he needs to push through constitutional amendments. The President is
seeking to amend the Brazilian Constitution so that he can re-run for
President."
The Indians most affected by these developments are the 10,000 Machusi and
Wapishana peoples across the border from Guyana. Since 1994 these tribes
have been resisting the incursion of ranchers, miners and their hired gunmen
into their lands and suffering numerous cases of assassination, detention,
rape and torture in the process.
This activity comes hard on the heels of a rapid expansion of mining
activity in Suriname where some of the most notorious names in the mining
world are gathering. Surinamese human rights and indigenous organisations
and international organisations, such as the World Council of Churches have
expressed concerns over these developments. The Suriname Government in
November 1996 encouraged this gold rush with a 12-page advertising
supplement in the Mining Journal.
Broken Hill Property, the Australian mining giant, is seeking a concession
in Suriname. This company is remembered for its infamous OK Tedi mine in
Papua New Guinea where it generated serious conflict with indigenous people
and dumped toxic waste directly into a river until forced to change its
policy by the Government. Broken Hill has also entered into a joint venture
with Golden Star in Guyana. Homestake Mining, which gained notoriety for
its dispute with the Lakota tribe for mining the sacred Black Hills, in the
USA, is also in the process of acquiring a concession in Suriname. Golden
Star is in dispute with several tribal communities in Suriname, one of
which, the Nieuw Koffiekamp community, is resisting forcible re-location
from a concession granted to Golden Star. Former dictator Desi Bouterse,
re-established as a political force, has surfaced into the areas of Golden
Star's concessions, allegedly threatening villagers to fall in line with the
eviction process.
The complacency of the Government of Guyana to the virtual take- over of the
Guiana Shield by some of the largest and (from an environmental point of
view) most disreputable, mining and timber companies in the world is a
matter of great concern. This policy of allowing unimpeded access to
national territory is also difficult to understand in the light of its
modest contributions to the national economy. We trust a more positive and
responsible attitude will prevail with respect to preventing any incursions
from Brazil into Amerindian communities and territory.
Copies of this press release are being sent to the Guyana Defence Force
along with other supporting information.
For further information please contact the
Forest Peoples Programme
1c Fosseway Business Centre, Stratford Road,
Moreton in Marsh, GL56 9NQ, UK
Tel: 44 (0)1608 652893 Fax:44 (0)1608 742977
Email: wrm@gn.apc.org
Forest Peoples Programme / World Rainforest Movement (UK Office)
1c Fosseway Business Center, Stratford Road, Moreton in Marsh, GL56 9NQ, UK
Tel: 44 (0)i608 652893 Fax: 44 (0) 1608 652878 Email: wrm@gn.apc.org
The World Rainforest Movement's International Secretariat is at:
Casilla de Correo 1539, Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: 598 2 496192 Fax: 598 2 419222 Email: rcarrere@chasque.apc.org