The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), on behalf of 10 regions, 246 communities and more than 50 thousand indigenous people of the Wapichana, Macuxi, Taurepang, Ingarikó, Patamona, Wai Wai, Sapará, Yanomami and Yekuana peoples, hereby REPUDIATES the statement of the Minister of Defense, General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, given yesterday, July 1, 2020, to the local press that: "(...) we had an operation with several ethnic groups, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY CASES AND REPORTS FROM MORE DISTANT VILLAGES AND ONLY TWO CASES. So, it is not a case of a pandemic that is affecting the Indians". In the face of this farcical statement by the minister, we came to take a public position and say that the reality of the indigenous peoples of Roraima, in relation to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, contradicts his statement.
For years, indigenous communities have been suffering from neglect in indigenous health, and during this period SESAI has not even made an emergency plan to assist the communities. There are reports from leaders that in their communities all relatives have had and are having the symptoms of Covid-19. And, when they go to the health center, they are not attended, because there is a lack of PPE and the tests are not enough, the health centers are in a precarious situation, that is, not even the minimum assistance our peoples are having. All this puts at risk the lives of more than 70 thousand Indigenous people in Roraima, served by the Eastern and Yanomami Districts.
Our peoples are dying, our lives matter, Mr. Minister! Your speeches show the inertia of a system that is not concerned with the lives of our relatives. We do not agree with or accept your words that try to make our pain invisible at a time of so many losses.
We who experience our reality, Mr. Minister! Covid-19 is indeed spreading every day in indigenous communities and this has taken away our tranquility. The number of people with symptoms is worrying. And we are concerned about the distribution of a drug (chloroquine) without scientific proof of effectiveness in combating the coronavirus. In addition, this situation can cause side effects, which can lead to
death, according to the WHO itself.
The minister should know that those who are at the forefront day in and day out, at risk, facing invaders, miners, are the indigenous agents of territorial protection and surveillance and other leaders.
So far, the Federal Government has not presented any emergency plan to combat the Pandemic caused by Covid-19. In view of this, to try to prevent a genocide, the peoples have called on the STF for the government to adopt measures to protect indigenous peoples during the pandemic.
Boa Vista, RR, July 02, 2020.
Repudiation-Note-1 (opens in new window)