Yanomani May Have Been Infected with Cholera
12/16/92
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/** rainfor.genera: 140.0 **/
** Topic: THE YANOMAMI AND THE CHOLERA **
** Written 4:04 pm Dec 16, 1992 by ax:cimi in cdp:rainfor.genera
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YANOMAMI INDIANS IN BRAZIL MAY
BECOME INFECTED WITH CHOLERA
After malaria, cholera may be become the next disease to
infect the Yanomami Indians. Two men who were prospecting for gold
in the Cauaburis river, which cuts the Indian area, became
seriously ill and were hospitalized with symptoms of the disease.
The gold prospectors, who until recently were carrying out their
prospecting activities in the Neblina Peak National Park,
partially located in the Yanomami territory, are now inside the
Indian area.
If cholera infects the Yanomami, the outbreak of the disease
will rapidly spread and become a more serious problem than
malaria, which this year has killed over 150 Indians. All the
water used by the Indians comes from rivers and it would be
difficult to treat this water. Moreover, according to the National
Indian Foundation (FUNAI), there is no local infrastructure to
take care of chorela patients.
Although the figures are not accurate, it is estimated that
there are at least 2 thousand 500 persons in the Cauaburis river,
including men, and children. The Yanomami population in the region
amounts to approximately 3 thousand Indians. According to a survey
carried out by a commission made up of representatives of the
Army, the Military Police and FUNAI, there are about 200 gold-
prospecting motor-rafts parked in this river. Dozens of motor-
boats transport food and fuel to the place daily.
In addition to being invaders, the gold prospectors are
harming the environment. Mercury is being used in large quantities
to wash the gold, contaminating the river, into which gasoline,
diesel oil and lubricant residues are also spilled. The commission
that visited the region saw that the gold prospectors are
deforesting a strip along the Cauaburis to build large huts.
According to the Brasilian Constitution, gold prospecting
activities are forbidden in Indian lands. In order to be allowed
to carry out these activities in the Neblina Peak park, the gold
prospectors would have to request the authorization of the
competent federal agency and submit an environmental impact study.
But they completely disregard these requirements. However, the
city hall of the municipality of Santa Izabel do Rio Negro
illegally authorizes the gold prospectors to operate there in
exchange for a payment of 18 grams of gold, with an additional
monthly charge of 32 grams per raft. According to the commission,
the person who is coordinating the gold prospecting activities is
the mayor of Santa Izabel do Rio Negro, Jose' i Ribamar Beleza,
supported by the government of the State of Amazonas.
IBAMA, the agency in charge of the environmental policy of
the
Brasilian government, has a project to remove the gold prospectors
from the Cauaburis river area. However, there are no funds
available to implement it. Meanwhile, the Yanomami are more and
more exposed to the risk of falling prey to another disease.
Brasilia, December 16th, 1992
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council