The Urihi Association, which represents more than 150 Yanomami communities in Roraima, appealed to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to suspend the public hearing that intends to hear representatives of mining cooperatives and gold associations.
The meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday (22nd), at 9 am, at the Senate’s External Commission, created to monitor actions in the Indigenous Land.
In the writ of mandamus, Urihi requests, in addition to the non-holding of the hearing, that part of the Commission’s work plan be suspended. The requested suspension refers precisely to the testimonies of representatives of prospectors’ cooperatives, the National Gold Association and the Cooperativa Minero Artesanal de Roraima.
The Urihi Association claims deviation from purpose and distortion of the focus of the collegiate, which is to represent the Senate in the management of the serious humanitarian crisis.
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In the action, the Association’s lawyer, Henrique Feijó Menezes, even talks about a work plan that was biased and approved in order to listen to the garimpeiros. He concludes by saying that: “the interest of the majority of the Commission is evident, which is not the Yanomami cause but a generous protection of illegal miners”.
The External Committee of the Senate is composed of the three senators from Roraima, Chico Rodrigues (PSB), who chairs the collegiate; doctor Hiran (PP), who was the rapporteur; and Mecias de Jesus (Republicans). In addition to them, the collegiate includes Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA), Humberto Costa (PT-PE), Marcos Pontes (PL-SP), Zenaide Maia (PSD-RN) and Leila Barros (PDT-DF).
Officially, the commission has not yet been notified of the action. Senator Chico Rodrigues informed the report that he awaits the statement to define the next steps.
