The Indigenous Council of Roraima expresses its repudiation of the cut in funds by the President of the Republic, as published in the Official Gazette of the Union on January 24. In which it vetoes the 2022 budget that mainly affect the protection of indigenous peoples.
With the cut in funds for the regularization, demarcation and inspection of indigenous lands, protection of isolated indigenous peoples, protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples, communities are increasingly at the mercy of invasions, aggravated by the pandemic. The cuts also affect equality policies and combating violence against women, scientific research and education.
The indigenous policy of the current government is making great strides to open territories to predatory exploitation at the expense of indigenous lives, carried out by people who are at the service of agribusiness and large landowners at FUNAI. We are perplexed by the advance of the policy of extermination of indigenous peoples, such as isolated indigenous peoples who, without protection funds, are increasingly susceptible to attacks and forced contact, which can mean extermination. We are witnessing a government without commitment to indigenous peoples, as is happening in the face of the pandemic, where only after two years did it create a committee to confront covid for indigenous peoples. If it were not for the struggle of indigenous peoples, the scenario would be more serious.
Our repudiation also extends to the managers of indigenous protection institutions who, because they are equipped with the federal government, do not protect and punish the invaders in a lenient way, and if they want to speak out, and are conniving with their depredation.
Therefore, we express our repudiation of the cuts in funds intended for the regularization, demarcation, inspection of indigenous lands, protection of isolated indigenous peoples, protection and promotion of indigenous rights.
Indigenous Council of Roraima, January 25, 2022