Feb 24 • 12:47 UTC 🇧🇷 Brazil G1 (PT)

Revocation of Decree 12,600 published, but indigenous people request 48 hours to leave Santarém port area

The Brazilian government has revoked Decree 12,600, which planned for studies on enterprises in the Tapajós River, while indigenous groups are requesting 48 hours to safely vacate the area near the Cargill port in Santarém.

The Brazilian Federal Official Gazette published the revocation of Decree 12,600 on the evening of Monday, October 23, confirming the federal government's decision to annul this decree which allowed for studies related to business ventures along the Tapajós River. The revocation is significant as it signals the government's acknowledgment of the indigenous communities' concerns about their territories and the ecological impacts of proposed developments in the region. The indigenous groups, who have been protesting for the past 33 days, are primarily worried about the implications such enterprises would have on their lands and livelihoods.

Despite the decree's revocation, representatives of the indigenous communities occupying the access area to the Cargill port in Santarém have requested an additional 48 hours to ensure a safe and organized departure. During the peak of the protest, approximately 1,200 individuals from 17 different ethnic groups camped in the area, highlighting the solidarity among these diverse communities in opposing potential threats to their environment and way of life. The leaders emphasize that this additional time is crucial to dismantle the makeshift structures set up during the occupation and to facilitate a peaceful withdrawal for everyone involved.

The government's engagement with indigenous leaders and the subsequent revocation of the decree represent a broader dialogue about indigenous rights and territorial preservation in Brazil. This incident not only showcases the strength of indigenous activism but also raises awareness concerning the balance between economic development and environmental sustainability within the Brazilian socio-political landscape.

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