In Amazonas, indigenous leaders of the Javari Valley threaten to occupy Funai

Ívina Garcia – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – On Tuesday, 14, indigenous leaders of the Kanamari, Mayuruna, Matis and Kulina peoples, from the Javari Valley, threatened to occupy the headquarters of the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI), in Atalaia do Norte, 1,136 kilometers from Manaus, if the federal government does not publish an ordinance on new coordinators of the Special Indigenous Health District (Dsei/Sesai) and the Regional Coordination of the Javari Valley (CRVJ/Funai).

In all, 70 indigenous people went to the Dsei, Sesai and Funai offices demanding that the names be published by March 25. According to the leaders, since January, after the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) took office, the agencies have had no defined coordinator.

According to the chief Koráh Kanamari, the delay in the nomination hinders the assistance to the indigenous peoples of the region. “If the ordinance is not published by the end of the month, the two headquarters will be occupied by the indigenous people and they will only leave the building when the coordinators’ ordinances come out”, he warned.

The official headquarters of Funai, in Atalaia do Norte, is deactivated due to a landslide that threatens the building, located on the banks of the Javari River, because of this, the body’s building is functioning in another space rented on a temporary basis.

The journal CENARIUM MAGAZINE contacted Funai to ask about the publication of the decree and the claims of the Javari Valley leaders, such as the lack of infrastructure and assistance, but has not yet heard back.

Security

On February 27, indigenous leaders presented a document with proposals for improvements for the native peoples of the Javari Valley and region who live under constant insecurity. The agenda includes more infrastructure, security, education, and health.

The delivery of the letter took place at the headquarters of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley (Univaja), located in Atalaia do Norte, in the extreme west of Amazonas, and was attended by the minister Sonia Guajajara, the president of the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai), Joenia Wapichana, and other representatives of the federal and state government.

In the letter delivered to the representatives, Univaja asks for new competitions for police officers in the region, reform of the Funai operational base, which is currently deactivated in Atalaia do Norte, because it is close to a ravine that caved in. In addition, they ask for reinforcement in the security of environmentalists and indigenous people, continuous inspection and advanced monitoring of isolated indigenous people.

Read also: Vale do Javari: under threats, indigenous leaders ask for security during meeting with government representatives