Air Force to control Yanomami airspace to tackle health crisis, mining
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a decree outlining measures to tackle the public health emergency and combat illegal mining in the Yanomami indigenous territory—an area covering 9.6 million hectares in the northern states of Roraima and Amazonas.
The air defense zone will come under the responsibility of the Brazilian Air Force Command, which is expected to take the necessary action to regulate and control the airspace “against all types of suspected illegal air traffic.”
Joint action
Administrative law enforcement measures, such as the blocking of aircraft and equipment supporting illicit activities, will be the duty of Federal Police agents, national environmental authority Ibama, and other federal agencies, the text says.
People will only be allowed access to Yanomami territory if authorized by joint legislation signed by the ministers of Health and Indigenous Peoples, “with a view to preventing and reducing the risk of transmission of diseases and other issues.”
Also under the decree, the Ministry of Defense should provide intelligence and logistical air transport for the teams neutralizing aircraft and equipment linked to illegal mining in the area.
The piece of legislation stipulates that federal authorities will request the goods, personnel, and services needed to transport the teams, supply drinking water, food, and clothing and to open or reopen support facilities for Brazil’s indigenous agency Funai, plus basic health care stations.
In recent speeches, President Lula had already announced the decision to adopt strict measures to combat illegal mining in the region.
“We decided to bring an end to this game. There will be no more mining and no more aircraft or fuel supply,” the president said at the Planalto presidential palace Monday (Jan. 30).
