The INDIGENOUS COUNCIL OF RORAIMA – CIR, an indigenous organization representing 261 indigenous communities of the Macuxi, Wapichana, Taurepang, Ingariko, Patamona, Wai Wai, Sapará, Yanomami Indigenous peoples, expresses vehement expressionREPUDIATIONagainst Law 1,701/2022, for being yet another attack on indigenous peoples by Governor Denarium and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Roraima.
Law 1,701/2022, which was processed as PL n. 233 proposed by Deputy George Melo (Podemos/RR) establishes that EQUIPMENT USED TO COMMIT ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES SUCH AS ILLEGAL MINING CAN NO LONGER BE DESTROYED. This is yet another attack and favoring illegal practices in indigenous lands, since we, indigenous peoples, are guardians of almost half of the territory of the State of Roraima, protecting the environment and the good living of society as a whole with our cultural and sustainability practices. The prohibition on the destruction of equipment aims to PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE PRACTICE OF CRIMES and the deforestation and pollution of rivers.
We say enough to the apologies and incentives for crime perpetrated by state deputies and the State Governor. And we say enough to the apologies for the crime perpetrated by pre-candidates for elective positions who publicly incite the population to commit crimes and criticize legitimate activities of monitoring and territorial and physical protection of indigenous peoples in Roraima.
It is not new that the State of Roraima has tried to approve illegalities against the rights of indigenous peoples and makes every possible effort to attack our rights, our good living and promote our genocide and a true ecocide. On December 21, 2020, the Governor of the State of Roraima, Antonio Denarium, had himself presented a bill to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Roraima (PL No. 201/2020), which was published in February 2021 as Law No. 1453/2021. In the summary, it was stated that the law provides for environmental licensing for mining activity in the State of Roraima, however, the content was to regulate the mining and prospecting activity itself, and the STF overturned the law in September 2021 in ADI No. 6672.
This new Law 1,701/2022 is flagrantly unconstitutional because it violates the constitutional text. It is yet another initiative to encourage invasions of our territories. We say enough is enough! WE REQUEST THE DECLARATION OF IMMEDIATE UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF THIS LAW AND THAT THE STATE OF RORAIMA, THE GOVERNMENT OF RORAIMA AND THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF RORAIMA IMMEDIATELY STOP ATTACKING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
Indigenous Council of Roraima, July 5, 2022.