Brasília - A decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal), which authorized the return of Xavante Indians to the Maraiwatsede reservation in the municipality of Alto Boa Vista in the state of Mato Grosso, was not well accepted by local non-Indian inhabitants. As a matter of fact, they expressed violent opposition to the decision by closing down two highways (the BR-158 and BR-080), besides confining workers from the National Indian Foundation (Funai), National Health Foundation (Funasa) and various NGOs on the reservation.

According to the Catholic bishop of São Felix do Araguaia, D. Pedro Casaldaliga, the situation has become critical because of the law's delay (it took the courts 12 long years to reach a decision). During the delay politicians and farmers took advantage of the situation and squattors occupied the Indian land. Casaldaliga says the solution is to give bona fide farmers who are squattors on the Indian land access to property as part of the government land reform project. He added that people who already have land or businesses in the region should not be part of any land reform project.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Keite Camacho
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/20/2004