In AM countryside, the Rio Negro Indigenous Federation denounces illegal activity and criticizes lack of inspection

Nicole Gomes – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Rio Negro (FOIRN) denounces the practice of illegal mining activities in the municipality of Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, 846 kilometers from Manaus. The complaint was made through Official Letter No. 065/2022, last Monday, 14, and the request was immediate against illegal work such as mining activities, garimpos or even the mining of mineral material in the Middle Rio Negro II Indigenous Land, in the Jerusalem Island.

“These mining rafts do a suction work that ends up taking the sand with pebbles and ore from the depth of the Rio Negro, which produces these beach huts, and with that the environmental impact, besides the mercury used in these activities; not to mention that there are communities that are located in areas that consume the fish, which comes from the Rio Negro itself”, explained Marivelton.

Appeal to the entities

FOIRN appeals for a joint action of the entities. “The letter is to publicize what is happening, while the control institutions do nothing. And if it continues like this, illegality will take over the territory, which puts in check and at risk the entire traditional local population that lives in this area”, stated the FOIRN’s President-Director.

According to Marivelton Baré, the letter was sent to the Federal Public Ministry (MPF-AM), Funai and the Brazilian Army. However, only the Army returned and affirmed that it will act in the region, but without a scheduled date for action.

FOIRN

The Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Rio Negro – FOIRN is a non-profit civil organization, without party or religious ties, created on April 30, 1987, which represents the 23 indigenous peoples of Rio Negro, with 91 grassroots indigenous organizations, through five regional coordinators with about 750 indigenous communities in the territory, with 10 indigenous lands recognized by the federal government and two in the demarcation process, which comprises the territorial areas of the municipalities of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro and Barcelos.

Check out the letter: