RIO DE JANEIRO—The construction of a hydroelectric plant above a sacred burial ground has mobilized 300 Amazon Indians to protest at the site. The Indians, from at least six ethnic groups, invaded Dardanelos Hydroelectric in Mato Grosso, Brazil, at dawn on Sunday, taking around 100 plant workers hostage.
Images broadcast by local media showed the tribes painted for war and brandishing bows and arrows.
“This construction has caused a great impact on the lives of our people. We are suffering because of this work,” Indian chief Aldeci Arara was reported as saying on Globo’s G1 website. “This protest is valid so that the issue can be addressed quickly. We want the authorities to tell us what they are going to do.”
The coordinator of the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) in Juína (MT), Antonio Carlos Ferreira Aquino said that the Indians are claiming compensation for damage to the site.
“What they want is a sustainability program for the area that will compensate the loss they have had with this archaeological site,” said Aquino in a statement published by local newspaper O Povo.
According to FUNAI, the Indians have agreed to exchange most of the hostages leaving only five employees of the company Energética Águas da Pedra remaining. According to reports, no one has been wounded during the stakeout.
“Actually, that’s the people who stayed to prepare the food for them,” Carlos, a local police officer told The Epoch Times, “There are only five people. All the hostages have been released. They made a bargain for the staff working in the kitchen to stay there, but everybody is fine, they are not tied up or anything.”
A meeting between the Indians and a committee formed by representatives of FUNAI and military police officers started on Monday afternoon.
“The police are monitoring the negotiations. In fact [the Indians] want a federal prosecutor and FUNAI,” added the officer.
The Federal Police have had no orders to take action, but are following the case closely.
“The invaded property is private. In this case, the assignment is for the Military Police who are conducting negotiations with the Indians,” Federal Police Chief for Mato Grosso, Alexandre Custódio Neto, explained.
“There is no court order for action by the Federal Police. We are watching the situation in case something happens, ” the Police Chief confirmed to The Epoch Times.
According to late reports the last five hostages have been released and negotiations between the Indians, representatives of FUNAI, the government of Mato Grosso, and the company are continuing.
The hydro plant is expected to be in operation by January 2011, but all works at the site have stopped while negotiations take place.
Images broadcast by local media showed the tribes painted for war and brandishing bows and arrows.
“This construction has caused a great impact on the lives of our people. We are suffering because of this work,” Indian chief Aldeci Arara was reported as saying on Globo’s G1 website. “This protest is valid so that the issue can be addressed quickly. We want the authorities to tell us what they are going to do.”
The coordinator of the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) in Juína (MT), Antonio Carlos Ferreira Aquino said that the Indians are claiming compensation for damage to the site.
“What they want is a sustainability program for the area that will compensate the loss they have had with this archaeological site,” said Aquino in a statement published by local newspaper O Povo.
According to FUNAI, the Indians have agreed to exchange most of the hostages leaving only five employees of the company Energética Águas da Pedra remaining. According to reports, no one has been wounded during the stakeout.
“Actually, that’s the people who stayed to prepare the food for them,” Carlos, a local police officer told The Epoch Times, “There are only five people. All the hostages have been released. They made a bargain for the staff working in the kitchen to stay there, but everybody is fine, they are not tied up or anything.”
A meeting between the Indians and a committee formed by representatives of FUNAI and military police officers started on Monday afternoon.
“The police are monitoring the negotiations. In fact [the Indians] want a federal prosecutor and FUNAI,” added the officer.
The Federal Police have had no orders to take action, but are following the case closely.
“The invaded property is private. In this case, the assignment is for the Military Police who are conducting negotiations with the Indians,” Federal Police Chief for Mato Grosso, Alexandre Custódio Neto, explained.
“There is no court order for action by the Federal Police. We are watching the situation in case something happens, ” the Police Chief confirmed to The Epoch Times.
According to late reports the last five hostages have been released and negotiations between the Indians, representatives of FUNAI, the government of Mato Grosso, and the company are continuing.
The hydro plant is expected to be in operation by January 2011, but all works at the site have stopped while negotiations take place.
