Brazil, Amazone: Violation of indigenous land rights in Raposa/Serra do Sol

For more than 30 years the indigenous communities of Raposa/Serra do Sol have been struggling to be finally recognized as the legitimate owners of their territories, a right so far denied by Brazil. Their territory has not yet been “regularized”. This has caused the violence of the ranchers and farmers against the indigenous population. On November 23, Jocivaldo Constantino, a Macuxi, was wounded by gunfire of a group of armed people invading the village of Jawari. The violent attack affected also two other villages – Homologação and Brilho do Sol. The invadors tore down houses and put others on fire, they destroyed the plants in the fields and blocked the access roads into the area. The attack and destruction of the communities left 131 persons homeless without food, clothing and cultivated fields.

The violence perpetrated by the landholders result from the fact that President Lula is delayed in signing the regularization document for the indigenous territory of Raposa/Serra do Sol, yielding to the pressure of the anti-indigenous lobby in Roraima. The lack of regularization is a violation of the right to food of these indigenous peoples. It is very important that President Lula now signs the decree for the indigenous territory. Please send letters to President Lula, with copies to the governor of the state of Roraima. Please also write to the Indigenous Council of Roraima.