Brazilian Commission Approves Mining on Indigenous Land
8/19/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Brazilian Commission Approves Mining In Indigenous Land
Source: Cimi - Indianist Missionary Council
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 19, 1999
Commanded by Congressman Elton Rohnelt (PFL-RR) - owner of the
Goldamazon mining company, the pro-government base mobilized itself
and, despite protests by congressmen of the opposition, the
Congressional Commission on the Amazon and Regional Development
approved, last 12th, the Bill 1610/96, by Senator Romero Juc (PSDB-
RR), which establishes norms for mining within indigenous lands. The
project obtained 12 votes in favor and five against and now moves on
to the Environmental, Minority and Consumer Defense Commission.
Congressman Paulo Rocha (PT-PA) protested, asserting that the same
treatment is not given to the Statute of Indigenous Societies, which
has been going through procedure since 1991, and is held up by a
governmental requirement, presented by ex-congressman Arthur da
T vola, delaying its route to the Senate, since 1994, without any
satisfaction given to the indigenous peoples.
Also, the leader of the Workers' Party in Congress, Jos, Genono (PT-
SP), reminded the Commission of the commitment assumed by the House
President, Michel Temer (PMDB-SP), with the indigenous leaders, to
vote on the Statute prior to any matter in reference to the subject.
The appeals were not heard by the president of the Commission who,
violating regiment, refused to declare the result of the nominal vote.
Within the National Department of Mining Production (DNPM) there are
30 thousand research projects in indigenous areas which if approved,
could provoke the reduction of indigenous territories and harm the
cultural and physical survival of these people. The Coordination of
the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab) is
concerned with the priority that the project gives to the three
thousand requests for research and licensing authorization within
indigenous areas carried out prior to the Constitution of 1988. This
would demand financial and human efforts that far exceed that which
the communities and organizations have at their disposal to submit the
requests to environmental rules, in public hearings.