Tension Grows in the Amazon Following Disappearances

12/27/2013 - 08h24

Irate following the disappearance of three local men, residents of Humaitá (249 miles from Manaus) set light to the headquarters of Funasa (National Foundation of Health) and Funai (National Foundation of the Indian) on Wednesday night.

They also destroyed 13 vehicles and three boats used to transport Indians.

Tenharin Indians, who live close to the city, were shopping in the city center when they began to be heckled by local residents, who blame them for the disappearance of the three men.

Nearly 60 Indians decided to take refuge in a local military base, which provoked a riot amongst the local population.

The disturbance began around 7pm. According to the Military Police of Humaitá, around 3000 people were involved in the protest, which involved violent clashes with the police.

Carrying cans of gasoline, the residents set fire to the local headquarters of Funasa and Funai, and to cars parked outside. They then continued to the banks of the River Madeira, where they set fire to three large boats used to transport Indians from the city to their village.

The Military Police tried to control the crowds with rubber bullets and shock grenades. However, they were forced to retreat, owing to the superior numbers of the crowds.

Five people were wounded in the clashes. They were treated in the local hospital before being released.

Agents from the National Public Security Force, the Federal Highway Police and the Civil, Federal and Military Police Forces were all sent to Humaitá. The Federal Police (PF) did not reveal how many agents it sent to the region.

"CLIMATE OF TENSION"

On Thursday morning, in an interview with the press, the PF's superintendent in Rondônia, Carlos Manoel Gaya da Costa, said that the current climate in the area was one of great tension. He added that the Indians are hostile and obstruct the work of the police.

"They make access difficult for the police," he said. "They deny any involvement in the disappearance of these people." The superintendent also stated that he fears a confrontation between Indians and whites in the region.

Local residents believe that Indians kidnapped the three men - Aldeney Ribeiro Salvador, an Eletrobras employee, Luciano Conceição Ferreira, a sales representative, and Stef Pinheiro de Souza, a teacher - as reprisal for the death of the Indian Cacique Tenharim, who was found dead on the Trans-Amazonian Highway.

According to the police, he was run over. However, the Indians claim that he was murdered.

The three men have been missing since December 16, when they left the city of Apuí heading for Humaitá. Since Wednesday, a group has been blocking the BR-319 Highway, which connects Humaitá with Apuí.

Folha was unable to make contact with Funai in Humaitá. However, Funai in Manaus said that it was sending a team to the region.

The Indian reserve, which was created in 1993, has 1,309 hectares and is inhabited by nearly 220 Indians.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Residents set fire to the Funai headquarters and clash with police in Amazonas