clique aqui para a versão Portuguesa
Representatives of the indigenous peoples of Acre and the South of
Amazonas - Ashaninka (Kampa), Apurinã, Jaminawa,
Jaminawa-macaw, Kaxinawá, Katuquina, Madija (Kulina), Nukini,
Poyanawa, Shanenawa, Manchineri, Yawanawá, Kaxarari, Jamamadi,
Macaw, Apolima, Naua -, gathered on Friday, April 7th in the
capital Rio Branco to iniciate the "Indigenous March 2000".
They presented several dances and traditional songs. These
presentations were no commemorations, but an expression of protest,
explained Franciso Apurinã, Coordinator of the Union of the
Indigenous Nations of Acre and of the South of Amazônas - UNI.
The indigenous leader Juraci Yawanawá pointed out the
solidarity with other segments of the society, such as blacks and
poor who also have to fight to be treated with dignity.
After a speech of the indigenous leader Erondina Kaxinawá,
given in Kaxinawa language, a letter was handed over to Acre's
governor Jorge Viana remembering the maltreatment and forays during
the "discovery" by the civilized man, and of the expulsion
of the indigenous people from their lands.
"Today", the letter continues, "we are at the mercy of
the greed of the civilized who is not satisfied with millions of our
relatives' deaths, and still wants to rob us the little that remained us".....
" The commemorations of the 500 years of Brazil offend and
disrespect our ancestors, our anonymous heroes that died defending
their children, grandsons and the future generations. We cannot ally
with this hypocrisy. We won't celebrate millions of massacred
relatives, victims of civilization, christianity and development,
that destroyed and violated our laws, our life-system and even
brought us the pain of prejudice and of discrimination ".
The
letter also mentions the Conference of the Indigenous Peoples and
Organizations of Brazil on April 20th and 21st, where they will
define common action strategies and propose a project for a new
different Brazil, respecting the rights of indigenous people, blacks
and other groups.
"We want to celebrate the victories that we achieved until the
moment. These victories cost us many lives and a lot of suffering,
but they showed that we are not peoples in extinction, on the
contrary, we are determined people and carry a great hope of living
in a country where Justice and solidarity reign"....
"Authorities of the Brazilian state Bahia and of the Federal
Government announce that they won't allow the entry and the
manifestation of the indigenous delegations other social movements in
that state, and that they will allow only the entrance of official
delegations in Porto Seguro. The federal government prepares a feast
for the international press and needs to hide the reality in which
the great majority of the Brazilians live. The best form of impeding
our presence and of hearing our opinion on those 500 years it is to
impede that we get there. Fortunately our Federal Constitution was
not thrown in the garbage jet. Our constitutional right to travel
remains and has been guaranteed through the safe conduct requested by
a public prosecutor."
After
the handing-over of the letter, in which the indigenous request
support for their people, the governor expressed his solidarity with
the demonstrators. Viana apologized for the crimes of the past and
wished them success and good luck. The government of the state of
Acre, as well as the Brazilian Indigenist Missionary Council - CIMI
contributed to the costs of the trip.
The group of 82 people took off on Saturday, April 08th from Rio
Branco in direction of Porto Velho in the state of Rondônia.
From there the trip continues through Cuiabá, Goiais,
Brasília, and Salvador. In these cities there will be more
manifestations and the group will join with indigenous people from
other parts of Brazil.
The march goes to Monte Pascoal and Coroa Vermelha in the state of
Bahia, where the indigenous conference "other 500 years "
will be held.
Read more about Acre at www.amazonlink.org/
and about indigenous people from Acre at www.amazonlink.org/OPITARJ/ .
For more information about the indigenous march 2000 see www.cimi.org.br/informei.htm
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