The president of FUNAI, army reserves general Franklimberg Ribeiro de Freitas, announced on Tuesday (11), in Brasilia, that he is leaving the agency.
He told officials, gathered at his request in the body's auditorium, that President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) is being poorly advised on indigenous issues.
He pointed out the negative influence of the farmers' caucus and the special Secretary of Land Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nabhan Garcia, who, according to the Funai president, "salivates hatred of the indigenous people."
The general also said that Nabhan, whom he called "this citizen," "wanted to end" the DTP (Department of Territorial Protection of Funai, an area responsible for the protection, identification, and demarcation of indigenous lands, among other activities).
He also said that FUNAI is seen as "an obstacle to national development" by government officials on the subject of environmental licensing required for large enterprises.
The general defended the revision of the legal framework of Indian policy to eliminate "contradictions" between laws and regulations, "and not to penalize FUNAI for this liability."
Franklimberg also admitted that Funai's budget "is too small to meet indigenous demands" and that there is a staff shortage.
It is the second time that Franklimberg has left his position in Funai after pressure from the farmers' caucus.
The first occurred during Michel Temer's government (2016-2018), when Franklimberg encountered friction with parliamentarians who wanted to change the demarcation process of indigenous lands.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon