More than 400 Yanomami indigenous people are camped in a forest area without fuel to return to their villages in the AM

Gabriel Abreu – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The Association of Advice to the Forest Peoples (Aflora) sent a letter on Wednesday, 19, to the Federal Public Ministry of Amazonas (MPF-AM) asking for support for more than 400 indigenous Yanomami to return to their villages. The indigenous people are camped in a wooded area and others are camped in front of FUNAI in Barcelos (401 kilometers from Manaus). They went out to vote in the first round of elections, but because of the lack of fuel they were unable to return home.

Aflora is requesting immediate shelter, adequate food and fuel to transport the indigenous people to their respective villages, from three communities on the banks of the Demeni, Padauiri and Aracá rivers. The main complaint of these indigenous people is the failure to set up polling stations in the villages, since this situation of neglect also occurred during the 2020 municipal elections.

“These indigenous people, however, were left without the means to return to their respective villages after the plea and we received footage proving that to date around 400 Yanomami have been precariously lodged in the municipality without access to food, security and assistance of any kind from the municipal and state authorities in addition to not having received any response as to the forecast for the arrival of the provisions necessary for their return”, the document states.

The general coordinator of Alflora, Silvio Cavuscens, filed with the MPF that the indigenous people are unable to return to their villages due to lack of fuel. The main complaint of these indigenous people is the failure to install polling stations in the villages, something that has been repeated since the year 2020.

“It is worth pointing out the recurrence of this situation, which has been happening since the municipal elections of 2020.
We request the action of the Federal Public Ministry, in this case, requiring, with the municipal and state agencies, provision of immediate shelter, as well as food for the indigenous people and fuel for transportation to their respective villages, giving them humane conditions to be able to exercise the constitutional right to universal suffrage, as assured by Article 14 of the Federal Constitution of 1988″, concludes the document.

Sought, the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) had not commented until the publication of this article. The report sought the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), but did not comment.

See the full letter: