During a press conference Thursday afternoon (Feb.25), the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) stated support for the bishops in the Amazon, States of Pará and Amapá, especially for the bishop of the Xingu Prelature and president of the Indigenist Missionary Council (CIMI), Dom Erwin Kräutler, and his struggle against the construction of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric plant on the Xingu river (PA).

 

The CNBB accompanies the steps taken to date for realization of the work and expresses concern about the preliminary environmental license for construction of the plant granted by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) at the beginning of the month. The press conference reinforced the memorandum of support issued this morning.

 

Speaking in the name of the Conference were Archbishop General of Mariana and president of the CNBB, Dom Geraldo Lyrio Rocha, and the Secretary General Dom Dimas Lara Barbosa. For both, the project of the Belo Monte plant is a concern because it does not take into consideration the grievances of the populations that are directly impacted by the dam. “Belo Monte is emblematic in that the process does not take into account the indigenous peoples, the riverine peoples and those who reside in neighborhoods of Altamira, which will certainly be those primarily damaged”.

 

The CNBB further points out the seriousness of the fact that the opinions of the technicians and the Ministério Público Federal were not taken into consideration. The indications are that with construction of the plant 1522km2 would be destroyed, being an area of 516km2 inundated and 1006km2 area, which would be dried with the definitive diversion of the Volta Grande do Xingu. Thousands of families of the city of Altamira and from the riverine and indigenous areas would be displaced.

 

The support of the Conference has as objective to call attention of public opinion and to sensitize the population for debating the question. In addition to this, the CNBB hopes that the authorities take provisions so that execution of the work not be initiated prior to persons directly impacted being heard and having their considerations and rights respected.

 

“We long for a development in our country based on respect for life, effective participation of the people in discussion and decision of the projects and the guarantee that there be real benefits, without grave impacts damaging to life of the people and environment. It is not possible to support processes that threaten the life of the traditional communities and other inhabitants of the region and threaten, disrespect and destroy the environment”, declared the CNBB.

 

Celebration

 

Earlier this morning, at the headquarters of the CNBB, the mass for parliamentarians was celebrated. During the celebration the bishop of Santarém (PA), Dom Esmeraldo Barreto de Farias, invited the parliamentarians to pray for the Xingu population, the region in which the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant will be built. According to him, the population suffering from the publication of the preliminary environmental license, which guarantees the auction to being the work. “I ask that you, in prayer, hold the Xingu peoples who are going to suffer even more with the works of the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant. We who live nearest, know what is going to happen in that region when the plant begins its activities”, lamented the bishop.

 

Dom Esmeraldo also emphasized that another regrettable fact is the anticipation of the construction of  five more hydroelectrics on the Rio Tapajós. “Belo Monte is only the beginning. For Pará, there is further anticipated the construction of five more hydroelectric plants that are going to change the lives of many people in the region”.

 

Alternative Nobel Prize for Human Rights

 

The CNBB this morning also ratified the nomination of the Bishop of the Xingu and President of CIMI, Dom Erwin Kräutler for the Alternative Nobel Prize for Human Rights. According to the entity, the nomination is a gesture in recognition of the “pastoral and prophetic” activity of Dom Erwin “together with the most defenseless and the indigenous peoples”.

 

Political Scandals

During the period opened for questions, the bishops were surprised by questions referring to political crisis in the Federal District. According to them, the CNBB positions itself in an ethical and not political or juridical manner in relation to the situation. “This entire crisis wears enormously on the Brazilian political process, the institutions lose credibility and this is very bad for the exercise of citizenship”, declared Dom Dimas.

 

Dom Geraldo was emphatic in saying that Brasilia does not deserve to commemorate its 50 years amidst this chaos. “This situation is inadmissible and shames us very much, both nationally and before the international community”, he stated.

Indigenist Missionary Council

Brasília