Brasília, January 12, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Justice, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, said on Friday (9) that confirmation of the territory demarcated as a single tract for the Raposa Serra do Sol Indian reservation, in the state of Roraima, is maintained. The Minister guaranteed, nevertheless, that nobody will be removed from the area until the government has resolved the situation of each individual. A package of measures will be issued for this purpose, to take care of the problems of non-Indians who live on the reservation. "Nothing will be done and nobody will be evicted without prior settlement of individual situations," he affirmed.

At the start of this week, the Ministry of Justice will establish a transition committee to be in charge of effectuating the homologation of the reservation and defining, once and for all, the situation of land ownership in the state. Bastos acknowledged that the situation of rice-growers in the state is complex but will be resolved prior to their removal. The committee will include representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Presidential Civilian Advisory Staff, Funai (National Indian Foundation), Incra (National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform), and the state government.

The Minister said that enforcement will be undertaken with tranquility. Nevertheless, he emphasized that "nobody is above the law" and that the Judiciary is the normal channel for resolving conflicts. "Order will be kept on the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation, and the governor concurs." He also informed that the Federal Police has already sent a contingent to the state to guarantee the security of the population. (DAS)