Rice farmers terrorise Brazilian rainforest communities
Date: 15/04/2008
Rice growers facing eviction from fragile rainforest lands in Northern Brazil are wreaking terror on indigenous rainforest communities who successfully waged a 30-year battle to protect their homelands.
Rice farmers and their allies are blockading roads, dynamiting bridges, taking hostages, launching homemade bombs and invading schools, according to reports from the Rainforest Foundation US.
Violence commenced last week as the government took steps to remove remaining rice farmers three years following the ratification of more than 4 million acres of rainforest lands in Brazil’s northern Roraima state. The Raposa Serra do Sol (RSS) region is home to more than 15,000 indigenous peoples.
The rice growers, however, have long threatened violent opposition, and are now putting their threats into practice,” says Christine Halvorson, Program Director
Rainforest Foundation US. “They said that ‘blood will flow’ and the communities fear the worst.”
The Rainforest Foundation is calling on the Brazilian government to see the operation completed immediately, taking all the necessary measures to protect the indigenous communities on the ground.
“We are urging the Federal Government to continue its’ firm step in the direction of guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples who have been waiting over three decades
for their lands to be recognised and who will finally be able to enjoy their rights as guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution,” said Christine Halvorson.
Rice farmers and their allies are blockading roads, dynamiting bridges, taking hostages, launching homemade bombs and invading schools, according to reports from the Rainforest Foundation US.
Violence commenced last week as the government took steps to remove remaining rice farmers three years following the ratification of more than 4 million acres of rainforest lands in Brazil’s northern Roraima state. The Raposa Serra do Sol (RSS) region is home to more than 15,000 indigenous peoples.
The rice growers, however, have long threatened violent opposition, and are now putting their threats into practice,” says Christine Halvorson, Program Director
Rainforest Foundation US. “They said that ‘blood will flow’ and the communities fear the worst.”
The Rainforest Foundation is calling on the Brazilian government to see the operation completed immediately, taking all the necessary measures to protect the indigenous communities on the ground.
“We are urging the Federal Government to continue its’ firm step in the direction of guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples who have been waiting over three decades
for their lands to be recognised and who will finally be able to enjoy their rights as guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution,” said Christine Halvorson.
