Peruvian paramilitary group invades the territory of Acre Postings in English: Mon Aug 8.

2011 Latin American Bureau http://www.lab.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1052:peruvian-group-illegallyoccupies-land-of-isolated-indians-in-brazil&catid=65:news&Itemid=39 National Geographic http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/08/08/concern-for-uncontacted-tribes-as-armedgang-invades-brazilian-forest/ Al Jazeera http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2011/08/08/vulnerability-indigenous-tribes-brazil Survival International
Jul y 28, 2011: Is olated i ndigenous peoples on the Peruvian side of the Acre border (map a vailable) new Peruvian government on noti ce: Progress can kill with petition for i solated indigenous peoples in Peru

http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/7535

Articles in this document:

Peruvian paramilitary group invades the territory of Acre

Peruvian paramilitary group encircles Funai team on Brazilian territory Governor of Acre, Tiao Viana, fears Peruvian mercenary violence against the isolated indigenous peoples In Acre, Funai suspects killing of uncontacted indigenous peoples by Peruvian paramilitaries Pro-Indian Commission of Acre (CPI-AC) requests presence of Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense in state of Acre Portuguese narco-trafficker is arrested in area of isolated indigenous peoples for the second time

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Background material: Al Jazeera Finding Brazil's isolated tribes - profile of sertanista Meirelles http://blogs.aljazeera.net/category/person/jose-carlos-meirelles Video
Survival International -Uncontacted tribe filmed on Brazil-Peru border - 30 May 08 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_1GhIjn8fY&feature=relmfu 2008 Uncontacted Amazon Tribe: First ever aerial footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLErPqqCC54&feature=related 2008 Stranger in the Forest: First Contact in the Amazon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfrDACu7g_c&feature=relmfu

*** Friday, August 5, 2011

Peruvian paramilitary group invades the territory of Acre

Link for photo: http://blogdaamazonia.blog.terra.com.br/2011/08/05/grupo-paramilitar-peruanoinvade-territorio-no-acre/ Altino Machado at 11:03 pm
Photo below: Mei relles (center) with two forest experts at Brazil-Peru border marker

By assuming the post of Defense Minister of Brazil, Celso Amorim will have to deal with a recurrent problem in the extreme west of the country: a paramilitary group has invaded Brazilian territory on the border of Acre with Peru, in the area of the isolated indians, where Funai (National Indian Foundation) maintains the Ethno-Environmental Protection Front of the Envira River. On Friday August 5, the Federal Police conducted an operation, using a helicopter on the Xinane Igarap (bayou), where Funai maintains a base, but only managed to apprehend only the Portuguese [citizen] Joaquim Antonio Custodio Fadista, 57. Sources in the office of the Federal Police Superintendent in Acre confirmed the operation, but said that they cannot comment on it:
- The i ssue is sensitive because it i nvolves national security a nd relations between the two countries. We are a waiting a uthorization from Brasilia to rel ease a report a nd disseminate i mages of the operation - said one of the Federal Police s ources.

*** Saturday, August 6, 2011 Peruvian paramilitary group encircles Funai team on Brazilian territory
http://blogdaamazonia.blog.terra.com.br/2011/08/06/grupo-paramilitar-peruano-cerca-equipe-da-funai-em-territorio-brasileiro/

Altino Machado at 2:03 pm Service members of the FUNAI (National Indian Foundation) remain surrounded by a paramil itary group that has invaded Brazilian territory, on the border of [the state of] Acre with Peru. The Peruvians are armed with rifles and machine guns. The four functionaries and Amazon forest tracking expert, Jose Carlos dos Reis Meirelles, who works for the FUNAI team, had been air-lifted out by helicopter during the Federal Police operation on Friday,

August 5. The team decided to stay at the Envira River Ethno-Environmental Protection base maintained by Funai on the Xinane igarap ( bayou) in an attempt to protect the isolated indians of the region. Based on traces and vestiges found in the forest, the Funai team estimates the presence of at least five men in more than one paramilitary group. The Peruvians surrounded the base and leave the FUNAI employees in a situation of extreme vulnerability in the event of armed conflict. The situation no longer depends on Funai actions because it represents a national security issue. - We are still being watched by the Peruvians. We saw the tracks of six people this morning, behind the base. We have only an old shotgun and two .22 caliber rifles. But if the Federal Police personnel were here, we would have caught the invaders today - reported the head of the Funai General Coordination for Isolated and Recently Contacted Indians (CGIIRC), Carlos Travassos. The Funai Envira River Ethnoenvironmental Protection team does have telephone and computer with internet access. - Our time in front of the computer is short. It is not easy to keep an eye on the monitor and one on the Peruvians. They are still here. They are more than one group of five or six people. They are monitoring us, and we them. The gang that is here in the forest is entirely silent. But the situation is inflamed. We will fire if necessary. We have internet and phone here - reported the expert forest tracker Jose Carlos dos Reis Meirelles to Blog da Amazonia. The documentarist Maria Emilia Coelho, who flew over the region during the Federal Police operation on Friday, said the Funai functionaries complain that the Federal Police did not remain at the base to guarantee the protection of the border. Appeal Jose Carlos dos Reis Meirelles, [serving as deep forest expert for Funai, and who in turn, has enlisted the indispensible services of two highly respected native indigenous experts from the region for the work in protection of the isolated peoples], released a message this afternoon about the situation in the area: "To all, You already know the news. Here is the latest. Sorry for sending to everyone, but time for being on the lap-top is short. An eye on the screen and one on the Peruvians cannot be done. The following: 1 Given the quantity of tracks left in the vicinity, we are certain that the [paramilitaries] were divided into groups of 5 or 6 and are truly making a sweep around the base here.

2 - The isolated peoples do not walk [in this specific area] here. The things that have disappeared from here [update: a mattress, bags of sugar, knapsack with bullet cartridges and an arrow fragment] indicate that it was not they [isolated indians]. 3 - We also believe that together with these Peruvian are indians, contacted from there. 4 - We are familiar with the indian whistles imitating animals. There appears to be a meeting of the nambu azul near here. 5 - If these guys [Peruvians] are looking for something, they have not yet found it. 6 - Everyone who is here (we five pinged cats [who are encircled]) in the forest is quiet, like them. 7 - The name of our two expert forest guides: Francisco Alves da Silva Castro Marreta. Francisco de Assis de Oliveira Martins - The Chico. 8 - The day that Funai discovers that one man like them are worth 20 indigenist [employees] and 20 (white) forest guides, perhaps it will decide to contract them, without public competitive bidding, because though they are illiterate, they are the greatest doctors of the forest that I know, perhaps the safety of the isolated indigenous peoples could be better conducted. We will remain here, to give what is given, until the Brazilian government decides TO RESOLVE FOR ONCE this absurdity!! Not for our protection. FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE INDIANS !!!!!! Those who have not updated, please look for sites and what is already out in the world. Anyone Who can lodge a complaint, apply some pressure etc.., will be welcome. The isolated peoples express their gratitude. A big hug to all on our "irresponsible" team, as we are being called. Consider carefully: Who is being irresponsible. Meirelles " *** Governor of Acre, Tiao Viana, fears Peruvian mercenary violence against the isolated indigenous peoples

Link w/ photo:
http://blogdaamazonia.blog.terra.com.br/2011/08/06/tiao-viana-teme-violencia-de-mercenarios-peruanos-contra-os-indios-isolados/

August 6, 2011 Altino Machado at 6:20 pm Governor Tiao Viana: "We need action from the Brazilian government" The governor of Acre, Tiao Viana (PT), considers the situation on the border with Peru to be "grave", where Peruvian paramilitary groups, armed with rifles and machine guns, have encircled five service personnel at the base for the Ethno-Environmental Protection Front maintained by the Funai (National Indian Foundation) on the Xinane igarap. The region is inhabited by four ethnicities of isolated indigenous peoples who became known worldwide when they were photographed for the first time. The images of two warriors shooting arrows at the plane flown by a Funai team, published exclusively by Terra Magazine, in May 2008, had enormous repercussions in Brazil and internationally. Concerned about the security of the Funai team in the region and the possibility that the uncontacted Indians have been the target of violence by Peruvian paramilitary groups, the governor called for the Minister of Justice, the Director General of the Federal Police, the president of Funai and Army Gen. Jose Elito Carvalho Siqueira, of the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic. Read more: Peruvian paramilitary group surround Funai team on Brazilian territory Peruvian paramilitary group invades Brazilian territory in state of Acre Isolated Indians are photographed for the 1st time in Acre Sertanista: uncontacted Indians in Peru were the target Tiao Viana said in an exclusive interview with the Blog da Amazonia Funai team during over-flight made on Friday (5) by Army helicopter, with support from the Federal Police, no longer saw the presence of isolated Indians at the coordinates used on other occasions. - There is concern that something might have happened to the isolated indigenous peoples. Mrcio Meira, president of Funai, fears that these Peruvians groups are like mercenaries, murders of indians. This idea of someone cruel, with the habit of killing Indians, appalls us - he said. Tiao Viana defends a new operation on the border of Acre with Peru conducted by Army and Federal Police, with support from Funai functionaries. He said control of the situation further demands joint diplomatic action by the Peruvian and Brazilian governments.

Isolated Indians photographed in 2008 The Federal Police conducted an operation on Friday using a helicopter in the area of the Xinane igarap, where Funai has a base to protect isolated Indians, but only managed to arrest the Portuguese man Joaquim Antonio Custodio Fadista. In March, Fadista was detained for international drug trafficking by the team from the EthnoEnvironmental Protection Front. Delivered to the Federal Police, he was extradited but returned to the region with more men. - I told the minister Eduardo Cardozo, if the Federal Police cannot remain in the area for a month, I can send men from the Military Police of Acre. What I cannot do is take action in a federal area without authorization - the governor added. Viana said it is imperative to protect the Indians, the integrity of Brazilian territory and the lives of FUNAI functionaries. - The region and the peoples who inhabit it are patrimony of humanity. That is a symbol of civilization of another time and another history we do not know. The minister and the general demonstrated total concern and sensitivity. Everyone is alert - signaled the governor. Viana has no explanation for the presence of armed Peruvians in Brazilian territory, but said he agreed with the forest expert Jos Carlos Meirelles, for whom the presence of paramilitary groups is due to the presence of drug traffickers and illegal logging on the Peruvian side. According to the governor, these illegal activities in Peru are pressuring isolated indigenous populations to seek refuge in Brazil. He said that even drug dealers are operating in the region and that also requires concerted foreign relations action by both countries.

- The issue becomes even more serious because the Peruvian rivers that flow into the state of Acre provide access to drug traffickers. If this is increasing, God forbid. We have to break definitively with that for community protection and ethics. We need action from the Brazilian government - he stated. The report verified that the Acre state government began to organize to send a helicopter with police to provide security for the five men who decided to remain at the border to defend the base for the EthnoEnvironmental Protection Front and Brazilian territory. *** Sunday, August 7, 2011 In Acre, Funai suspects killing of uncontacted indigenous peoples by Peruvian paramilitaries Altino Machado at 11:20 am Below: Isolated indigenous people photographed in 2008 Peruvian paramilitaries, armed with rifles and machine guns, that invaded the Brazilian territory on the border of Acre, conducted "raids", that is, they have organized the killing of isolated indigenous peoples, according to the head of the General Coordination of Isolated and Recently Contacted Indians (CGIIRC) of the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), Carlos Travassos, who was found at base for the Ethno-Environmental Protection Front of the Xinane Igarap. Encircled, with four other functionaries of FUNAI, Travassos used the Internet to send a message that says that the team located a new camp used by the Peruvian paramilitaries. The coordinator of the Ethno-Environmental Protection Front, Artur Meirelles, and forest men Chicao and Marreta, found a bag with shells of cartridges stolen from the Funai base. - They took the bag and brought it here. Inside was an arrow fragment from the isolated peoples. These fellows made a raid on the isolated indians, as was suspected, we now have a conclusive proof - Carlos Travassos reported. Travassos said it is necessary to question, as soon as possible, the Portuguese man Joaquim Antonio Custodio Fadista, who was arrested on Friday, August 5, by the Federal Police at the Funai base and taken to Rio Branco, the capital of Acre. Fadista had already been previously detained in March for international drug trafficking by the team from the Ethno-Environmental Protection Front. He was delivered to the Federal Police and extradited but returned to the region with more men.

- We are now more concerned than ever about the situation of the isolated peoples. This situation could be one of the largest blows to the work for the protection of isolated indigenous peoples in recent decades. A catastrophe for our society. Genocide. We are outraged - he said. According to Travassos, late Saturday afternoon a group of ethnic Ashaninka arrived at the Funai base. They heard the Funai team on the radio and came up to bring other weapons to take to the EthnoEnvironmental Protection Front, and a boat motor that was in the Village of Simpatia. - They also saw fresh tracks, further down the river, of three people. Tomorrow [Sunday] they will return to the village. At least here we now have more arms. We will need to make a new flyover to verify the integrity of the isolated peoples or at least of their malocas (community long houses). This is breaking news for us. *** Aug 7 2011 Pro-Indian Commission of Acre (CPI-AC) requests presence of Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense in state of Acre http://blogdaamazonia.blog.terra.com.br/2011/08/07/comissao-pro-indio-pede-presenca-das-forcasarmadas-e-do-ministerio-da-defesa-no-acre/

CPI-AC released a statement on Sunday in the Acre capital of Rio Branco on the situation at the base for the Ethno-Environmental Protection Front , on the Xinane bayou on the Brazilian border with Peru, which was invaded, sacked and robbed by Peruvian paramilitaries. The CPI-AC requested the urgent presence of the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Justice in the region inhabited by isolated indians who are persecuted by narcotics traffickers, illegal loggers and explosions set off by international petroleum companies on the Peruvian side. It is necessary that the state and federal government, as well as the Peruvian government recognize that the indigenous peoples were, are and always will be a relevant part of the national policies and dynamics, especially on the border. Now, with their security threatened, we hope that the defense of national sovereignty will not once again exceed and disconnect indigenous rights and indigenist policy of the indians. It is necessary to address the issue in an integrated manner and understand that, in this case, national security should be linked to defense of life, not only of the nation, but of those who live, survive and make the Envira region of Brazil what it is affirmed. ***

Portuguese narco-trafficker is arrested in area of isolated indigenous peoples for the second time
http://blogdaamazonia.blog.terra.com.br/2011/08/08/narcotraficante -portugues-e-preso-em-area-de-indios-isolados-pela-segunda-vez/ From posting by Altino Machado Aug.8, 2011

Joaquim Antnio Custdio Fadista, 60, called the Portuguese, was jailed Saturday Aug 5 by Federal Police. Recognized as an international narcotics trafficker, Fadista had been arrested in the same area in March of 2011. His arrest at that time was for theft, reentry as an expelled foreigner and clandestine introduction of a foreigner in Brazil. His reappearance in the same are with a number of men armed with rifles and machine guns was again forewarned by indigenous peoples and members of the Envira River Ethno-Environmental Front.

Fadista in photo taken by Civil Police in March.