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, publicly expresses its REPUDIATION of Antonio Denarium (Progressistas), Governor of the State of Roraima, for yet another attack against indigenous peoples published yesterday (29) by Folha de São Paulo.
By stating that we must "acculturate" ourselves so as not to appear "like animals" anymore, Denarium commits yet another crime, taking another step towards discrimination and genocide against indigenous peoples. Silvio Almeida said in his inaugural speech as Minister of Human Rights that "Every tragedy, every great massacre begins with the normalization of hate speech." The Citizen Constitution was a victory for all of us and enshrined the original rights of indigenous peoples, burying the tutelary and assimilationist conception of the Brazilian State. The hate speech and crimes of discrimination committed by Denarium must be prosecuted and punished.
The Governor also downplays the serious state of public calamity faced by the Yanomami indigenous people due to the invasion of their territory by illegal miners, which has grown exponentially in recent years, encouraged by former President Bolsonaro and Denarium himself, through a series of acts, speeches, and omissions. Among Denarium's criminal acts, we highlight the enactment of state laws 1453/2021 and 1701/2022, both blatantly unconstitutional.
Without any qualms and believing in impunity, Denarium celebrated the enactment of this latest law with members of the Legal Mining Movement with a barbecue in front of the Legislative Assembly. The law prohibited the destruction of mining machinery seized in actions to combat environmental crimes, and forbade the Roraima State police forces from accompanying actions to combat illegal mining. The Governor never tires of encouraging criminal activity by defending Bill 191/2020, proposed by Bolsonaro, which seeks to open indigenous lands to mining, leasing, hydroelectric power plants, among other things.
We, the indigenous peoples of the State of Roraima,WE REPUDIATE the speeches of Governor Denarium and We urgently request that he be investigated and convicted for the crimes he committed of discrimination and genocide against the indigenous peoples of Roraima.
The CIR's legal counsel filed an official request for investigation with the Public Prosecutor's Office in the State of Roraima, the Regional Superintendence of the Federal Police in Roraima, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and the Ministry of Justice.
Boa Vista/RR, January 30, 2023
Indigenous Council of Roraima