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| Yanomami family
©Claudia Andujar/Survival |
Yanomami Indian land is again under threat after the minister of
defence referred to a 'mistake' in its demarcation, and the need to
'revise' – that is, reduce – the area. The Yanomami are completely
dependent on the reservation which was established in 1992 following an
international campaign led by the Yanomami-support group, CCPY, and,
internationally, by Survival. Reducing it would be a catastrophe as
miners and loggers would quickly flood in.
Another threat is already present from the three army barracks there.
Relations between soldiers and Indian women are spreading sexually transmitted
diseases, yet a fourth barracks is now planned near the Yanomami settlement of
Ericó. In fact the army has recently announced its intention to build a whole
string of barracks along Brazil's northern frontier. This will bring massive
disruption to the Yanomami.
