Federal government completes 1,000 operations at Yanomami Indigenous Land over five months

Last Saturday (the 13th), the Federal Government conducted its thousandth security operation in the Yanomami Indigenous Land to curb illegal mining activities. The operation in the Palimiú region included the Amazon Protection System Management and Operational Center (Centro Gestor e Operacional do Sistema de Proteção da Amazônia/CENSIPAM), the National Security Force and the National Indian Foundation (Fundação Nacional do Índio/FUNAI). During the operation, mining equipment was destroyed and approximately 1,000 kilos of cassiterite, 140 liters of fuel, a Starlink antenna and cutting shears were seized. Additionally, a suspect involved in the illegal mining activity was arrested.

The Government House, was established on February 29, 2024 to combat the logistics of criminal organizations trying to gain access to the riches of Brazil's largest indigenous land, located in the Amazon. During the operation, 18 aircraft, 467 engines and 54 Starlink antennas were seized and rendered inoperable; additionally, more than 72,000 liters of diesel oil, 38,000 kilos of cassiterite and over 10,848 kilos of gold were seized and 59 people were arrested. "This is a significant milestone. Over five months, we have confronted the illegal mining that has caused so much destruction to the Yanomami Land and its owners, with determination, intelligence, coordination and partnership," said Government House Director Nilton Tubino.

Over the next few months, the Federal Government plans to complete the removal of invaders and expand public policies to promote the autonomy of the Yanomami, particularly in health and food security. "With the removal of illegal mining, federal agencies working on Indigenous issues can implement new and additional measures. Saving the Yanomami will still require a lot of support because the ravages of mining, such as mercury contamination and disease outbreaks, combined with years of neglect, have left a legacy of scorched earth. We are working tirelessly to change this reality," Tubino added.

Following reports of increased seizures and destruction of criminal infrastructure, CENSIPAM, an agency linked to the Ministry of Defense, has identified a sharp decline in illegal activity and an increase in the costs of mining, as the number of mining alerts in the region dropped by 73% between January and April 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the cost of illegal mining has risen by 40%.

Dialogue with Indigenous leaders

Yanomami Indigenous leaders met at the Hutukara Association headquarters in Boa Vista to evaluate recent government operations. They expressed a positive view of the Government House's efforts and welcomed the significant progress, particularly in combating illegal mining. During the meeting, Government House directors discussed the progress made this far and the challenges ahead.

Meeting with Indigenous leaders

"The meeting helped us gain a clearer understanding of the actions being taken in our territory," said Maurício Ye'kwana, one of the leaders present. "We could identify positive aspects and progress in the operations conducted by the Government House," he added.

Nilton Tubino welcomed the opportunity to maintain open lines of communication with the Indigenous communities, underscoring that the Government House is committed to listening to and meeting the needs of the Yanomami people.

Government House

The Federal Government created Government House to coordinate and monitor on-site implementation of the Plan for Disintrusion and Humanitarian Assistance in the Yanomami Indigenous Land. The structure is part of the Federal Government's efforts to protect more than 27,000 people who live in the Indigenous land, ensuring the resumption of the Indigenous way of life and combating illegal activities, such as deforestation and illegal mining.

Government House facilitates communication and coordination between federal, state and municipal entities in the execution of both emergency and permanent public policies. Located in Boa Vista (RR), it manages actions by agencies such as the Federal Police, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Agência Brasileira de Inteligência/ABIN), FUNAI and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis/IBAMA), as well as the ministries of Education, Health, Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights. In total, 31 federal agencies are involved.