In a hearing yesterday (16), with prosecutor Dr Alisson Marugal, from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), Yanomami leaders demanded an immediate response from federal security forces against the escalation of attacks by gold miners.
Community leaders report to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office that the miners' boats have been speeding past the IBAMA checkpoint near the Palimiu Community.
The security forces operating in the area have been unable to repel the attacks.
There is also a fear of a new wave of violence, like the assassinations of Yanomami leaders that occurred earlier this month. According to the leaders, the invaders have been presenting false documents to pass through the area where the barrier is installed, under the pretext of bringing back those who were in the illegal mining area, but they do not return.
Another request was for the local school to resume normal operations. Currently, security teams are occupying the school as they do not have their own base. Leaders reported to the prosecutor that the miners do not respect the police forces. They also denounced that the seized materials have been returned to the miners.
"The miners are not respecting the rules, they have no respect. You no longer know the mining operations, nor who is reporting them," and "the police have been returning the seized material. If it's seized, it's meant to be destroyed," they reported.
The Prosecutor stated that he was aware of some of the latest information and plans a new visit to the areas, in addition to demanding that Funai (National Indian Foundation) build the surveillance base at the entrance to the Indigenous Land. According to him, the information the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office received is that the steel cable was an improvisation, and the base should be installed far from the community to avoid potential attacks.
The delegation of leaders was accompanied by the CIR's legal advisors, who urged the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to take a more assertive role in demanding that the federal government increase the number of federal agents and establish a larger base.
Steel cable destroyed in Yanomami territory on the 14th / Photo: Yanomami leaders