News-Letter  Nr. 405

Pataxó decide to rebuild Indigenous monument

Projeto "O Mundo que nos Rodeia"

One day after they destroyed the Indigenous Resistance Monument in Coroa Vermelha, the Military Police were still in the indigenous area making it difficult for people to access it. Cars were being stopped and people were being interrogated. The climate in the area was one of clear constraint. Only after the ministry of Justice intervened, some of the policemen left the area. Despite the pressure, the indigenous people decided to continue to build the monument. About 200 Pataxó who had been gathered since Wednesday (April 5) expressed their held-back outrage and unanimously decided to rebuild the monument. "The monument will be built no matter what happens. This is our decision," said Neusa Matos Pataxó. The chief of the village, Ailton Alves dos Santos (Carajá) gave vent to his feelings in an interview to the A Tarde newspaper: "They put a cross here that has nothing to do with indigenous people. We will have nothing to celebrate if even in our own land we don't have the freedom to erect a symbol or a monument in memory of indigenous peoples."

The military action caused international indignation. Members of parliament, common people and organizations in Brazil and abroad sent letters to the committee in charge of the ceremonies of Brazil's 500th anniversary expressing their outrage with such arbitrary action less than 15 days from the official "festivities" and from the Indigenous Conference. Indigenous people from Brazil's north region who are already marching to Porto Seguro resented very much the destruction of their symbol of resistance. The Single Workers' Association (CUT), the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Representatives, through its chairman, representative Marcos Rolim, and senator Tião Vianna (Workers' Party - state of Acre) condemned the action at the National Congress and in letters sent to the governor of Bahia, César Borges, and to the Public Security Secretary, Cátia Maria Alves dos Santos. The Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Representatives has also asked the Office of the Attorney General for Citizenship Rights in Brasília to request explanations from the government of Bahia and the Military Police for the action and the immediate removal of the policemen from the indigenous area. The State Legislature of Bahia sent state deputy Edson Duarte (Green Party) to Cabrália to hear what the community has to say and report back the facts to all state deputies.

Since it has no consistent explanations to provide, the federal administration has been lying to journalists, telling them that artist Dan Baron is collaborating with the community by producing the monument for the Pataxó. In many letters sent to local authorities, the Pataxó claim that they are the ones who had the idea to build the monument. They say that during the Conference they want to deliver to the peoples of Brazil a monument in memory of the life and resistance of indigenous people on the South American continent. The official reaction to their decision to re-erect the monument is still not known.

Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe launch International Campaign

A signed petition and a photograph exhibition mark the official launching today (April 6) of the International Campaign for the Legalization of the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe Territory in Itabuna, state of Bahia. The aim of the campaign is to report the situation of the indigenous people and pressure the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to judge immediately the Ordinary Action to Declare Title Deeds Null and repossession that was referred to the STF in 1982. The Pataxó also want the federal administration to ensure the physical integrity of the community, since they have been receiving death threats and their territory was invaded by the Military Police of Bahia in September of last year and since then they have stayed there. On the 16th, the campaign will be launched in Salvador, the capital of the state.

Brasília, 6 April 2000.
Indianist Missionary Council - Cimi





For more details on the text you may want to contact Cimi directly under e-mail:



Webmaster Pro REGENWALD

We're happy to receive your comments or answer your questions. now, if you want to contribute to this work