In Italy, the first country in the European tour, the Northeastern delegation denounced the adverse impacts of the transposition of the São Francisco and violations of human rights in preparation and execution of the project.

 

The indigenous delegation raises a cry of alarm for the governments and civil society in European countries: the São Francisco River has suffered many aggressions, such as the construction of seven hydroelectric dams and deforestation, which is unable to support another project of intensive exploitation of its waters. The environmental damage would be irreparable and lead to the death of the river, which instead of another engineering design, needs in fact a revitalization.

 

Development: not at all costs

In Rome, Italy, the delegation participated in several public activities. On 25 January, there was a conference in the Hall of Peace in Província. The following day, the delegation attended a public meeting at the Italian Center for Peace (Cipax). Pretinha Truká, Uilton Tuxá and Saulo Feitosa were also received by Domenico Scilipoti, member of the " Environment, Planning and Public Works Commission" and who fight against water privatization in Italy.

 

 "The transposition ends our people and our way of life." That was the message that the delegation members delivered to several audiences. Pretinha, leader of the Truká people, was emphatic about the project that the government presents as a major step in development: "Your development is our slaughter," he said

 

Uilton dos Santos, cacique (chief) of the Tuxá people and general coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo (APOINME), made it clear that opposition to the Implementation of the project is not a mere opposition of indigenous peoples to development itself, but how to achieve it. "Development yes, but not at all costs. The economy is overriding life and overriding the rights of the indigenous peoples and traditional communities," he said.

 

Access to water for all

Uilton also stressed that the transposition will transform the São Francisco river into the largest hydrographic market in the world, which is totally opposed to the indigenous conception: "For the Indians, water is a common good of humanity, not a commodity."

 

He also stated that, according to government data, the transposition of water will only benefit agribusiness and metallurgic enterprises, among other industries, without the benefit of needy people in the region.

 

 They will not have access to water of the canals, contrary to government’s announcement, that the banner of transposition will ‘bring water to thirsty people’ of the semi-arid region. “At the same time, the government itself has developed an alternative water management plan for the Northeast: the famous Atlas," continued Uilton "which, at half of the cost, can benefit a much larger number of people and solve the problem of water distribution in the Northeast, with less environmental impact and democratization of access to water for the region’s poor”.

 

Ethnocide

O third member of the delegation, Saulo Feitosa, adjunct secretary of CIMI (Indigenist Missionary Council), has put the transposition in the wider context of the threats that the PAC represents for the indigenous peoples. "There are 450 projects of the Lula government programs that affect Indigenous Lands. According to our data and research, for example, there are at least 21 projects that affect uncontacted indigenous peoples, who are at risk of extinction. We have prior experiences, these encounters are fatal for these people. In this sense, we are talking about ethnic cleansing. "

 

United Nations

After the meetings in Italy, the delegation will head to Geneva, Switzerland, to meet with representatives of the United Nations. The contacts are confirmed with the High Commissioner for Human Rights the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Water and International Labor Organization (ILO), which issued observations to the Brazilian government regarding the abrogations of Convention 169 in the case of the transposition project of the São Francisco river. Then, the delegation will travel to Brussels (Belgium) and Berlin (Germany).

 

 

More information on the trip:

 

CIMI   (Brasília)  55/61/2106 1666   Paul Wolters (English) / Maíra Heinen (port.)

CIMI Europa       39/33 3634 8279   Martina – delegation coordinator (Italian)

 

Indigenous peoples involved in the Opará campaign and contacts: 

 

Truká people              55/87/ 9606 6065            Cacique (chief) Neguinho

Tumbalalá people      55/87/ 9131 0008            Cacique (chief) Cícero

APOINME                    55/75/ 8815 0715            Dipeta Tuxá

 

Organizations involved in the Opará campaign and publication of the report of denunciation – contacts for information:

 

CPP / NE                  55/75/8835 3113            Alzeni Tomaz

AATR                        55/71/3329 7393            André

Via Campesina        55/82/9950 0227            Hélio

NECTAS/UNEB       55/75/8856 0622            Juracy Marques

Articulação Popular do São Francisco   55/75/8843 5494       Ticiano Rodrigo