During a public hearing on Tuesday (18), at the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee for the Amazon, the minister of Defense, Nelson Jobim, said that it is necessary to "set a national agenda for the Amazon". According to the minister, this agenda would help defining policies to issues like sustainable development, environmental protection and security in the region.In the minister's opinion, Brazil has been acting "defensively", only responding to a foreign agenda, or, more specifically, an European agenda.
- We are the ones who should be making the decisions. The Amazon is not an amusement park for Europeans, that have already destroyed their own forests - said Jobim, who thinks that defining rules for land tenure in the region should be the key point of a national agenda, as it would allow farmers to effectively own and invest in their own properties.
The subcommittee - a branch of the Committee on External Relations and National Defense - promoted the public hearing after a request made by senator Mozarildo Cavalcanti (PTB-RR), who also invited the minister of National Integration, Geddel Vieira Lima, and the secretary for Strategic Affairs, Mangabeira Unger, to detail on their plans for the Amazon.
Jobim affirmed that the only way of encouraging people to invest in the region is by solving the agrarian disputes. According to the minister, the lack of a definition regarding land tenure is only attracting opportunists, while pushing those in greatest need to the informal economy and to criminal activities.
- It is necessary to have people living in the Amazon - defended Jobim, reminding that many native's sons are migrating to the Midwest region.
According to the minister, a national policy for the Amazon cannot be restricted to military posts located in strategic points. Without economic development, the military will keep struggling to patrol the border and assist isolated communities, says Jobim.
In respect to land tenure, the minister believes that indians are not the owners of the lands they live in. In his opinion, based on the Constitution, they are only entitled to occupy these lands for an indefinite period of time.
- These lands belong to the State - said the minister, warning that the Armed Forces are allowed to enter indian lands, whether for protecting the inhabitants, or to protect the border.
- It is necessary to have people living in the Amazon - defended Jobim, reminding that many native's sons are migrating to the Midwest region.
According to the minister, a national policy for the Amazon cannot be restricted to military posts located in strategic points. Without economic development, the military will keep struggling to patrol the border and assist isolated communities, says Jobim.
In respect to land tenure, the minister believes that indians are not the owners of the lands they live in. In his opinion, based on the Constitution, they are only entitled to occupy these lands for an indefinite period of time.
- These lands belong to the State - said the minister, warning that the Armed Forces are allowed to enter indian lands, whether for protecting the inhabitants, or to protect the border.
He also referred to some views on the subject, specially from academics from the Southern and Central regions of the country, as "idealistic".
- Not only we can, we will enter - warned Jobim, who also reminded that a presidential decree allowed the building of 28 patrolling posts, in addition to the 20 posts that are already active.
The minister reminded that there are already regulations that force non-governmental organizations to get authorization from the Ministries of Justice and Defense in order to work at the Amazon.
In regard to the presence of the military in the region, considered insufficient, the minister said that more troops will be deployed to the region, increasing the contingent from 25 thousand to 40 thousand soldiers.
He affirmed that the most important thing is being able to mobilize human and logistic resources. This is most important because armed conflicts nowadays happen in an irregular way, involving groups (such as drug dealers) rather than countries.
- Not only we can, we will enter - warned Jobim, who also reminded that a presidential decree allowed the building of 28 patrolling posts, in addition to the 20 posts that are already active.
The minister reminded that there are already regulations that force non-governmental organizations to get authorization from the Ministries of Justice and Defense in order to work at the Amazon.
In regard to the presence of the military in the region, considered insufficient, the minister said that more troops will be deployed to the region, increasing the contingent from 25 thousand to 40 thousand soldiers.
He affirmed that the most important thing is being able to mobilize human and logistic resources. This is most important because armed conflicts nowadays happen in an irregular way, involving groups (such as drug dealers) rather than countries.
Senators
At the end of Jobim’s speech, three senators expressed their views on the subject. Augusto Botelho recommended that the revitalization of the Armed Forces should be made by investing in the country’s own arms industry and praised the idea of the minister to encourage men to stay at the Amazon.
Senator Jefferson Praia (PDT-AM) said that he agreed with the long term plans, but also suggested more immediate goals to respond to the Amazon’s urgent needs, mostly sustainable development and scientific and technological research.
Senator Mozarildo Cavalcanti agreed with the minister in respect to Brazil’s sovereignty in the Amazon and the urgency to resolve questions related to land tenure in the region.(Agência Senado)
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