"The murder of the forest, the water, and our children is Bolsonaro's responsibility," says Yanomami leader.
"Several times I sent official letters requesting and pleading for help for the Yanomami population," denounces Junior Hekurari.
247 - Indigenous leader Junior Hekurari, president of the Yanomami Indigenous Health District Council, participated in the TV 247 program "Giro da Onze," where he denounced the humanitarian crisis in the Yanomami territory in Roraima, the largest in the country.
According to him, the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) spent four years ignoring requests for help from indigenous communities, while illegal mining occupied the region. The Yanomami leader says he sent about 60 requests for help.
“These illegal miners are criminals who are murdering the water, the forest, and the children. And this responsibility lies with the Bolsonaro government. This is the mark and signature of the Bolsonaro government. He is the one who did this. Several times I sent official letters asking and begging for help for the Yanomami population. Asking for assistance, asking for medicine, health professionals, and security for the children who were dying, and we received no response,” denounced Hekurari.
Now, according to him, the Lula government is bringing aid to the indigenous population, but the "people suffered greatly for five years due to the invasion of indigenous land." "More than 20 illegal miners entered, contaminating our water and our forest. Where there was potable water, our children drink water contaminated with mercury and gasoline," he reports.
Hekurari explains that the region is the size of Portugal. “We have more than 31 indigenous groups scattered between Amazonas and Roraima. There are also Yanomami people within Venezuela, but they don't mix within Brazil. They are cultures different from ours. We have 378 communities, 40 regions, and five ethnic groups within the Indigenous Territory. At least 120 communities are suffering greatly and are in a more calamitous situation, which represents 15 Yanomami,” he pointed out.
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