Indigenous protest against Belo Monte operating license
IBAMA chair Marilene Ramos was interrupted by the indigenous protesters who danced, sang and demonstrated at the institute auditorium against the project on the Xingu river.
An indigenous group protested at the headquarters of the Brazilian Institute for Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) against the operating permit for the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, in Pará, granted Tuesday (Nov. 24), which authorized the filling of the plant reservoir. The operation license obtained by Norte Energia energy utility is valid for six years.
IBAMA chair Marilene Ramos had just started to explain the permit in a press conference when she was interrupted by the indigenous protesters who danced, sang and demonstrated at the institute auditorium against the project on the Xingu river. They carried banners reading “No to Belo Monte” and “Xingu forever alive”.
The indigenous leaders complained they were not heard before the operating permit was issued.
The indigenous leaders complained they were not heard before the operating permit was issued.
Chief Tabata Kuikuro of the Upper Xingu met the news with sadness. “We got even more concerned. The plant project is drying up the river. This is a sad day for us.” The Belo Monte project has been in progress on the Xingu river for four years and five months now.
According to Renato Mendonça, Indigenous Associations consultant at Instituto Socioambiental, the part of the project related to indigenous management has not observed in full and indigenous lands are vulnerable.
“When the Belo Monte project is completed, people will be unemployed and may end up invading indigenous territories. They [indigenous communities] are seriously concerned about this. They have also noticed changes in the amount of fish and water level of the river, and think it's going to get even worse from now on” Mendonça said.
Marilene Ramos acknowledged the protest, but maintained that the indigenous-related section of the permitting requirements was negotiated directly between the National Foundation for Indigenous People (FUNAI) and Norte Energia to ensure that the indigenous protection and compensation plan would be fulfilled. “We've been guaranteed that the indigenous protection program will be fully complied with,” she said.
Translated by Mayra Borges / Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Indigenous protest against Belo Monte operating license
