Justice reiterates order for demarcation of indigenous land in Acre

The Federal Court of Acre has once again determined that the demarcation of the Manchineri Indigenous Land of Seringal Guanabara/Jaminawa do Guajará, in the region now known as Riozinho Iaco, which had its identification process started about 20 years ago, be continued. The land is occupied by the Manchineri and Jaminawa peoples and is located in the municipalities of Assis Brasil and Sena Madureira (AC). Identification is the first phase for eventual demarcation. A first decision ordering the progress of the demarcation had been handed down in 2017. The Union and the National Indian Foundation (Funai) appealed on the grounds that a decision by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) had suspended all demarcation processes in the country. Now, the Federal Court has concluded that the argument does not apply to the case, as the suspension determined by the Supreme would refer to the prohibition of eviction and displacement of people during the covid-19 pandemic, but without effect on the territorial rights of indigenous people. The court stated that “the delay in complying with the sentence has exposed the original peoples to land conflicts and pressure from the agricultural sector in the region”, according to a note from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF). The court decision gave Funai 30 days to report the stage at which the demarcation process is and the estimated time for completion. Agência Brasil contacted Funai and is awaiting a response. On April 19, Day of the Indigenous Peoples, the president of Funai, Joênia Wapichana, announced the reactivation of six working groups with the aim of carrying out six demarcation processes, including that of the TI Manchineri do Seringal Guanabara/Jaminawa do Guajará .

Agência Brasil