Kayapo Hold Inspectors in Pará
Jornal do Brasil
September 27, 2000
A team made up of 50 inspectors from IBAMA (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), the Federal Police, and FUNAI (National Indian Foundation) was detained by Kayapo Indians for a period of 10 hours yesterday, in the Kayapo Reservation in the south of Pará. According to the Federal Police, the act was a reaction to the operation undertaken by the government to prevent the illegal logging and sale of mahogany in the region. The Kayapo use mahogany as a major source of income, and maintain a reserve of 11 thousand cubic metres of mahogany logs, valued at US$ 10 million. The Kayapo say they need money to feed their families and purchase medical supplies, but that FUNAI doesn't give them anything.