Government extends crisis cabinet for the pataxó issue – 03/29/2023 – Mônica Bergamo

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples decided to extend, for 45 days, the activities of the crisis office aimed at communities of the Pataxó ethnic group in the extreme south of Bahia. Entities familiar with the case claim that “a low-intensity war situation” promoted by militiamen and ranchers is underway.

In addition to the extension of the crisis cabinet, the portfolio says it plans to send a ministerial delegation to the state, with the presence of Minister Sonia Guajajara, and to carry out a joint agenda with the Government of Bahia to discuss solutions to the conflicts that plague the state. territory.

The measures are taken following a complaint sent to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The initiative is from the Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), the Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples and Organizations of the Northeast, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo (Apoinme) and seven other organizations and entities.

The complaint reached the court in the early days of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), with criticisms that mostly concerned the management of Jair Bolsonaro (PL). A new letter sent on the 24th of this month, however, classified the performance of the current Ministry of Indigenous Peoples as “inefficient” and harshly criticized the management of the crisis by the Government of Bahia.

“The conflict situation is of enormous magnitude, thus requiring a commitment from all spheres of government, both federal and state. for indigenous peoples,” the organizations told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

“The situation of the Pataxó people, in the south of Bahia, is getting worse every day, without new conflicts and murders of indigenous victims being avoided by the Brazilian State, despite its discourse to the contrary”, they continue.

According to Apib and the other signatories, the indigenous people in the region are dissatisfied and insecure with the actions of the local security forces, since military police are supposedly paid by landowners to attack their communities.

“The Pataxó chiefs and leaders have repeatedly requested the urgent dispatch of the National Public Security Force to the region, including at meetings of the crisis cabinet of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, in the belief that expanding the task force will reduce the audacity of the landowners. requests, however, were not answered”, they complain.

“It is necessary to point out that around 12,000 indigenous people are being affected by the violence that marks the region”, they continue. “Armed actions range from impediments to the right to come and go, launching tear gas bombs, firing machine guns and automatic pistols at properties, carrying out evictions without a court order and others.”

In a note sent to the column, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples states that it has requested the sending of National Force agents to the conflict region and is still awaiting responses from the Government of Bahia.

“The ministry is also working together with the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai) to conclude and sign the declaratory decree for the Barra Velha indigenous land”, he says, citing one of the territories affected by the conflicts.

Sought by the column, the Government of Bahia did not respond.

The conflict situation has dragged on since the middle of last year, which resulted in the deaths of indigenous people in the region. In August, shots were fired at the Pataxó Boca da Mata Indigenous School, where there were about 80 children.

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MY STORY

Former governor João Doria received guests at the launch of his biography, “João Doria – The Power of Transformation”, written by journalist Thales Guaracy. The event was held at Livraria da Travessa at Shopping Iguatemi, in São Paulo, on Monday night (27). Former President of the Republic Michel Temer (MDB) was there. Father Julio Lancellotti also attended.

_{with CLEO GUIMARÃES (interim)BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS It is MANOELLA SMITH}

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