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Non-indigenous farmers and rice producers leave Raposa Serra do Sol
Non-indigenous families living off farming and massive rice growing in the territory of Raposa Serra do Sol have begun to evacuate the reservation weeks after the Brazilian judiciary ruled that Raposa is a single continuous territory that is to be owned by the indigenous population.
According to Survival International, a Macushi leader said that "now we have the right to fish in our rivers once more without fear of being shot at by the farmers' gunmen". Since the occupation of the territory by big rice farmers, the indigenous peoples have been excluded from the production processes. The exclusion has resulted too often in violence against indigenous inhabitants.
The deadline for leaving the reservation was April 30. The government, though, has allowed some families to remain 10 days more in the territory so that they can finish the rice harvest under way. Around 300 police officers and soldiers are ensuring the ruling is obeyed. According to government sources there has been no violence so far in the removal process.
Settlers, who have been banned from returning to Raposa once they abandon it, will be compensated by the State. Some have complained about the measure, saying they are "victims of a legalised robbery"; others have regarded the compensation as insufficient. "This land was good for raising livestock. They are promising us another land, but today I have nowhere to go" a farmer complained to O Globo newspaper.
An end to a 4-year process
Between 18,000 and 20,000 Amazonian indigenous tribes live in Raposa do Sol. They mainly consist of 5 ethnic groups: the Macushi, Wapichana, Ingarico, Taurepang and Patamona. The government of Lula da Silva created the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation in 2005. The exclusive use of land for autochthonous inhabitants was then granted. However, it was not until March 19 that the Supreme Court gave definitive green light to a final settlement in favour of the indigenous people.
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