Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Brazil, the Episcopal Conference raises its voice on the “genocide” of South-American Indians

The Fides agency draws from the note of the country’s bishops, strongly suggesting the necessity of safeguarding the rights and territories of indigenous peoples.
 
«It’s a real genocide». Like the Jesuits did in the 17th century, the Brazilian bishops are now taking the side of South-American Indians. In the world's most populous Catholic country, the episcopate is mobilized to «defend the indigenous peoples and their land.» 

The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB) has sent missionary agency «Fides» a note in defence of the territories and rights of indigenous peoples, Quilombolas, fishermen and other traditional peoples. 

A commitment that is reminiscent of the historical experience of Paraguay’s “reducciones” (1609-1769), the settlements of Guarani Indians promoted by the fathers of the Society of Jesus in the lands conquered by Portugal and Spain, with the desire to preserve their identity of people and vassals of the Crown. 

South-American Indians, who lived, according to their ancient customs, in the mountains, in small, far-apart groups, were brought  together by the Jesuits to form settlements of about 5,000 people each. 

Many will remember the "reducciones" because of "Mission", a movie directed by Roland Joffé (1986), starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons.»
   
“Reducciones” have a complex context, which is analyzed in further detail in the course of the exposition. They have to do with the “encomienda”, a colonization system which was often a sort of disguised slavery, and with the strong will to evangelize, shared by missionaries and their collaborators who, in their mission, were not always able to respect the Guarani identity, but managed to defend their freedom and dignity because, on many occasions “reducciones” were the only way to safeguard them.

There were 30 Guarani “reducciones”, which stretched between the rivers Parana and Uruguay, in a vast territory that included regions that today are part of Paraguay and even of Argentina, southern and south-eastern Brazil, south-eastern Bolivia and Uruguay.
  
The Jesuit’s “reducciones” were not limited to the Guarani, because there were also people like the Moxos (1682) and the Chiquitos (1691) in Bolivia, the Maynas (1637) in Ecuador and Peru and the Orinoco (1730) in Venezuela. In their note, the Brazilian bishops deeply regret “the postponement of the administrative process of demarcation,” as well as “the invasion and exploitation of traditional lands of the peoples.” 

The text draws attention to the “conditions of discrimination and murders to which the Guarani-Kaiowá people in Mato Grosso do Sul are subject to.” According to the Brazilian episcopate, this is a “real genocide” that stains the image of Brazil as a country standing up for human rights. 

“We reject vehemently the attack unleashed by the ruralist group and other segments of the National Congress against the rights of indigenous peoples, considered in our Constitution, through the PEC 215/2000 constitutional amendment project," reads the note.
  
The bishops have already spoken on the subject a few days ago. During the press conference, the President of the Pastoral Land Commission (Cpt), Mgr. Enemésio Lazzaris, bishop of Balsas, said that great works, such as the building of dams and plants for the exploitation of mineral resources, have a great impact on these communities, who end up quitting their territories. 

«The territory is more than the land itself: it's a relationship that is built on the place where you live, where your ancestors lived, where you grew up and where families are formed», underlined Bishop Lazzaris. 

In his speech, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, President of the Episcopal Commission for the Amazon, said that the Amazon has a specific role in the global context, so the local population should first be heard on issues that affect them directly. «They should be able to decide what is important to them. Usually it is not so: their lands are invaded and they are trampled,» said the cardinal. 

There were «reducciones» in Chile as well. Reducciones are considered an exciting moment in terms of missionary impulse, which accounted for almost 160 years (1609-1769) of fruitful evangelization among the Guarani people. 

The Society of Jesus and the World Youth Day (WYD) in Madrid have worked together for months on an exhibition dedicated to the Jesuit missions. 

Through the century, the Holy See has been sending thousands of missionaries overseas.