Almost 18.000 Indians from four different ethics groups in the north region of Roraima (north of Brazil) are been threaten Roberto Jaramillo Bernal, S.J.

Roberto Jaramillo Bernal, S.J.

Indigenous´s clamor in Romaira-Brazil

Romaira-Brazil / Society – This is a very delicate and urgent human and politics situation, and I demand to every one, if you feel solidarity, to take some time and help us.

Almost 18.000 Indians from four different ethics groups in the north region of Roraima (north of Brazil) are been threaten by six families that took over their land (knowing that it was Indian land and illegal action) to crop rise. In connivance with the politics and juridical power those families refuses to leave the reservation and they have even appeal to the Supreme federal Court claiming for the cancellation of the presidential decree (from 2005) that create and statues the Indian reservation. If the Supreme Court decide in favor of them it will open a very dangerous precedent for all the Indian reservations in Brazil, a country where the reach have not any scruple for taken over the poor and weak when a business opportunity arises. Just today 10 Indians where soothed in their own land by mercenaries hired by those families. Some of them where dangerous hounded in the head and remain at the public hospital.

The Catholic Church in Roraima has been and is very strongly at the side of the Indian people. The missionaries where requested to leave the Indian lands (by the Indian association) but we are working getting support for their action and doing what is possible to show them our unconditional solidarity. Just this week the Cathedral was stolen twice, in an action that seems to be not without a hidden message.

The Supreme federal Court should pronounce itself in the coming weeks about the mandate for the federal Police to take out of the Indian Reservation the rice croppers, and about the legality of the decree that created the Reservation. They have to much pressure against justice and legality; they need our support not only to respect but to make respect for all citizens the Constitution of this country.

Please, do not let this action for later… we need you to send these messages to the President Lula, to the Justice Minister and to the members of the Supreme Federal Court. They are already 10 Indians that have shed their blood for this cause, we hope that the number will not grow, or in any case that their blood will not be in vain.

Thanks for your attention and God bless you and all those who work by Justice and Peace.

__________________
Roberto Jaramillo Bernal, S.J. Jesuit Regional Superior of the Amazon.