News-Letter Nr. 489

Conflict with Casualties Among Settlers and Parakanã Indigenous People

As a result of a conflict involving the Parakanã indigenous people and invaders of the Apyterewa indigenous land in São Félix do Xingu, west region of the state of Pará, three settlers are dead and five indigenous people are missing. The incident took place on Friday, the 23rd, but because it is a remote location where communications are difficult, the public was only informed about it on Tuesday, the 27th. The climate is tense in the region. The invasion of the 980,000-hectare Apyterewa indigenous land has been reported since 1993. Incited by economic and political interests, settlers have been invading the area in organized groups to extract gold and timber from it illegally. The land is full of mahogany.

This last conflict took place in the region of Bom Jardim in a locality known as "Estrada da Taboca," which was built by timbermen of São Félix do Xingu very close to the Xingu village. According to information provided by indigenous leaders, the settlers were caught opening trails inside the forest to divide the land into lots. The casualties could have been avoided if a preliminary order for repossession issued in July of this year by the acting federal judge of the Judiciary Section of Marabá, Francisco Alexandre Ribeiro, in favor of the indigenous community had been complied with. The judicial order was not implemented as a result of the inaction of Funai, Ibama and the Federal Police. It is important to highlight that in lawsuits against indigenous people all preliminary orders are quickly complied with. In the case of the Parakanã, neglect caused a tragedy that can have more drastic consequences.

Other people may die in the region, since the invaders are organizing themselves and planning attacks on the community. Led by warrior Xapukatua, the Parakanã declared that they are ready for the conflict. A group of warriors entered the forest to look for the missing indigenous people. The regional manager of Funai, Benigno Marques, said that the region is facing the risk of bloodshed. In another invaded area, in a region called "Estrada Morada do Sol," east of the place where the casualties were registered, a group of 2,000 settlers are also arming themselves to expel the indigenous people from the land. So far, no measures have been taken by Funai or the Federal Police to put an end to this situation.

Cimi reported the situation to the Office of the Attorney General, blaming the federal administration for the casualties. Since 1999 a group of entities made up of the Prelacy of Xingu, Cimi, the Land Pastoral Commission and movements that support indigenous people and rural workers have been holding meetings with the federal administration to try and solve the problem of the invasions. The group has been reporting the lack of inspection in the region, invasions, illegal developments and the implementation of a settlement area by Incra, like one that exists since 1994. The entities have also reported the presence of timber exporting companies in the indigenous area that have been using and sponsoring the people who have been invading the area. The Parakanã have been stressing the lack of security faced by the indigenous community and said that they are ready to defend themselves with their own means.

Framers intimitate the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe

The Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe chief Gérson de Souza is once again in Brasília to report the tense climate prevailing in the region of Pau Brasil, southern Bahia. The Federal Police left the area without any justification. This attitude has stimulated farmers to apply psychological pressure against indigenous people and to threaten them physically and morally. In the wee hours of yesterday, gunmen once again invaded the Caramuru Catarina Paraguassu area. Three houses have been completely destroyed by bombs and shots. Nobody was injured. The Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe delivered a document to Funai and to the Federal Prosecution Service demanding measures to remove farmers from their land. "A large conflict can occur at any moment. They do not accept our presence and we do not accept their presence in the land," the indigenous people warned.

Brasília, 29 November 2001
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. Please , if you want to contribute to this work