Amazonas: Public Statement From COIAB On Mineral Extraction Projects On Indigenous Lands In Amazonas | Land Portal

The Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), considering the revival and advancement of diverse interests - governments, national and international companies and even acting as an indigenous people - around the extraction of mineral resources from indigenous lands that are in the Amazon comes from the public to express:


First - COIAB declares itself outraged by the authoritarian and truculent government as the issue is addressed and totally ignores the fundamental rights and collective rights of indigenous peoples recognized by the Federal Constitution and reaffirmed by international treaties such as Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization and the UN Declaration on Human Rights.


Second - COIAB accordingly repudiates the agreement signed by the State Secretariat of Indigenous Peoples (SEIND), the State of Amazonas, on Monday 29 August, with the Canadian mining company Cosigo Resources Ltd., which has the purpose of conducting an inventory of potential mining projects in indigenous lands in the state. The "Mineral Extraction Project in Amazonas State," brokered by Secretary of State for Mining, Geodiversity and Water Resources (SEMGRH) seeks to cover the regions of indigenous lands and Içana Tiquié in the Upper Rio Negro, and Apaporis on the River Japurá.


Third - The agreement, unlike the press office declared by the SEIND, in the newspaper A Crítica, does not comply with Brazilian legislation, international conventions and treaties. The Act totally ignored the fact that the issue of mining on indigenous lands has not been regulated by Congress, depending on the achievement of consensual agreements between the Federal Government and the Indigenous Movement in the Brazilian National Commission on Indigenous Policy (CNPI), second which all aspects that affect the lives of indigenous peoples, including mining should be treated in the new Statute of Indigenous Peoples, the infra-constitutional law which should regulate the chapter of the Constitution relating to indigenous rights.


Fourth - Mining is not a matter of consensus between indigenous peoples and communities, and at times appears more like a matter of personal interest of individuals living in cities for some time. It is therefore very delicate and disturbing the decision of the organs of government, even presided over by Indians, of hanging around talking and negotiating on behalf of these people, many of whom have experienced to date or suffer the disastrous consequences of this activity, be it business or prospecting.


In this sense, COIAB reaffirms its support to the letter of rejection issued by the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of the Upper Rio Negro (FOIRN) against the agreement signed by SEIND. The FOIRN denounces the fact that there was no dialogue with local leaders and the indigenous organization, as is falsely reported.


Fifth - The commitment of the parties to set up, along with indigenous communities, organizations and leaders to "Free, Prior and Informed Consent" implies a usurpation of powers of the Union for the indigenous question is a federal responsibility. On the other hand, the Bill relating to the matters of "relevant interest of the Union" has not proceeded in Congress and the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent, established by ILO Convention 169 (Articles 6 and 7), has not yet been regulated by government.


Sixth - The statement of the representative of the Canadian company, Andy Rendle, that mining activity will not impact the environment and projects that will benefit the communities is mainly a discourse of persuasion, as anywhere in the world, big business left to cause irreversible environmental and social impacts. What about the benefits, it is well known what are the most common: division in the communities, internal conflicts, social problems (prostitution, alcoholism, drugs, etc.), cultural characterization, among others. What about the profits, of course millionaires, nor need to speak, left for the owners of capital and other beneficiaries involved than the indigenous communities.


Seventh - Without going too far, considering the example of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant, the promise of support projects, including the beginning of the preceding developments, certainly aims to co-opt and divide communities and leaders, and condition the so-called "free, prior, and informed consent" that is, for communities to approve later without much resistance to the implementation of research and mineral exploration on their land, joining the battalion including exploited labor required by companies.


Given these facts, the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon - COIAB manifest solidarity with the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of the Rio Negro - FOIRN and indigenous peoples, so that initiatives like this do not come back to repeat itself in respect to autonomy, constitutional rights and origin of our peoples.


Translated from Portuguese and published by http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com

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