The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), through its Legal Advisory, filed the Final Letter of the II State Meeting of the Indigenous Territorial Protection and Surveillance Group (GPVTI) to public authorities. The document proposes that the entities adopt measures to protect and inspect the indigenous lands of the State.
With the theme "Security, Self-Determination and Surveillance of Indigenous Territories", more than 200 leaders and agents met in an assembly on February 23 and 24 at the Lago Caracaranã Regional Center, where they analyzed and debated the situation of indigenous rights and protection and surveillance of territories.
Leaders and agents from the regions of Amajarí, Baixo Cotingo, Murupú, Raposa, São Marcos, Serras, Serra da Lua, Surumú, Tabaio, Wai Wai and Boa Vista were present. It also had the participation of Yanomami relatives from the Maturacá-AM indigenous community and Macuxi relatives from the To'ka and Karasabai indigenous communities, Guyana.
Auditorium of the Lago Caracaranã Regional Center. Photos: Ascom/ CIR
The Letter calls on the National Indian Foundation (Funai), the Federal Police (PF), the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF), the Brazilian Army, the Federal Highway Police (PRF), IBAMA and ICMBIO to act to protect indigenous lands, especially through culturally appropriate protection programs, in collaboration with indigenous territorial surveillance and protection agents.
The document calls for the intensification and reinforcement of the operations of FUNAI, the Federal Police and IBAMA to remove illegal miners. In addition to the other invaders who are in indigenous lands, the Brazilian justice system, through the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Public Defender's Office and the Courts, as well as public security agencies, must develop actions that recognize the legitimacy of the decisions taken based on the regulations, internal rules of the indigenous communities based on the demands deliberated in the regional and community assemblies.
The Letter ends by requesting that the municipalities carry out the execution of the resources allocated by parliamentary amendment of Federal Deputy Joenia Wapichana for territorial and environmental surveillance and monitoring activities, according to the priorities already indicated and agreed upon by community leaders.
The general coordinator of the CIR, Edinho Batista, was participating in the first day of the Meeting. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of participants was reduced and all the health protocols of the World Health Organization (WHO) were followed, with the use of masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing.