Brazil: Illegal miners are being removed from Roraima, Lula says
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote Tuesday (Jan. 7) on his Twitter account, his government will not allow mining on indigenous lands. In his message, Lula said a process of removal of illegal miners is being carried out in Roraima.
The president pointed out there are 840 clandestine airstrips in the region, 75 of which are near Yanomami lands. "It is not possible not to see this. Whoever allowed this must be held responsible," Lula wrote.
According to the president, the control of indigenous lands will be restructured with the participation of mayors and governors.
Destroying presence
In a press conference Monday (6), Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara described as destructive the existence of illegal mining in the Yanomami indigenous territory.
"What is being reported is still far from showing the reality there, with such a strong presence of miners, with great destruction in the territory. It is a lot of mining, infinite mining, the territory is all taken over by miners, by destruction, by contamination of the water. The Yanomami people have no way to drink water, they have no clean water to drink," he said.
