Brasília, 4/20/2004 (Agência Brasil) - Representatives of 27 Indian groups have decided to camp out at the Esplanada dos Ministerios (the equivalent of the Washington Mall) until the government makes a final decision on the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation. The area is located in the state of Roraima and it must be explained that the area has already been demarcated, but there remains a final step in the legal process of establishing an Indian reservation there (the final step is known as "homologação"). The Indians represent groups from the states of Paraná, Paraíba, Goiás, Tocantins, Roraima, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

Yesterday, Indian Day in Brazil, they presented a document with 20 grievances. Among the problems cited is the situation in the Roosevelt Reserve in the state of Rondonia where dozens of diamond prospectors have been killed in recent fighting with Indians there.

Translator: Allen Bennett