DISQUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Excerpts from Louise McGraths December 20, 1996, fax to National Geographic Online:
For some months now the team has been receiving death threats.
They have been informed of these threats, either directly, or by other sources,
including the commander of the local army regiment, who had come to hear of the
threats. However, over the last few weeks the number of threats has increased.
Over the last few days another worrying development has arisen. The area
within which the Korubo lands are located has been interdicted since April 8, 1985.
This means that the area is recognized as indigenous land. [Non-Indians must
have FUNAIs express authorisation to enter the region.]
Since the Frente de Contato/Vale do Javari has been in operation, it
has been stopping all people who want to pass the confluence of the
Rivers Ituí and Itacuaí with the
purpose of preventing the entrance of anyone who doesnt genuinely live
in the area. Local inhabitants of the area have been allowed free access to
and from their homes.
A legal decision passed on December 6, 1996, has now made the right
of entry to the area much more ambiguousmaking it possible, Sydney
believes, to understand that anyone who relies on the region for his or her
livelihood now has the right to enter and the FUNAI team has no right to
prevent them.
This of course makes the control of people through the region
much more difficult and therefore could put the security of the FUNAI
team and the Korubo (along with the other indigenous groups who inhabit
the region) at greater risk.
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