February 16, 2022

10:02

Bruno Pacheco – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The Federal Public Ministry of Roraima (MPF-RR) seeks a consensus with the Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEIs) of eastern Roraima and Yanomami, in the capital Boa Vista, after the Special Secretariat of Indigenous Health (Sesai), responsible for the bodies, show opposition to the exhumation of indigenous victims of Covid-19 and buried in cemeteries in the city, without authorization of family members. The information was passed on to CENARUM MAGAZINE, on Monday, 14, by the ministerial body.

A month ago, exhumation was recommended to the districts, by the MPF, so that indigenous people have the traditional right to perform rites of passage and mourning. The bodies should contact the relatives of the victims to verify their interest in the process of removing the remains of a loved one from a grave and transferring the same. Sesai, however, said it would not meet the measure, according to a note from the Public Ministry.

“The Sesai expressed itself contrary to the exhumation and informed the MPF, through a letter, that it would not meet the recommendation. Considering that all the local bodies had manifested favorably to the measure, the MPF is currently seeking to speak with all those involved to try to reach a consensus about the exhumation and proceed with the action. If the recommended bodies do not comply with the recommendation, the MPF will analyze the appropriate measures”, communicated a note from the MPF sent exclusively to CENARIUM MAGAZINE.

Understand

In January of this year, the ministerial body issued a recommendation that the organs promote the exhumation and transfer of remains of indigenous people who died as a result of Covid-19 and who were buried in cemeteries in Boa Vista, Roraima. According to the measure, the bodies should be transported to the communities of origin to perform traditional funeral rituals.

The right to perform the rituals came into question in 2020, after complaints by the Wai Wai and Yanomami peoples that their cultural mourning practices were being violated by health authorities. At the same time, an investigation was opened to follow up on the case, with the aim of solving the problem and meeting the cultural demands of the indigenous people, as well as guaranteeing health security in the midst of the pandemic.

According to the MPF, the DSEIs had agreed, during a meeting, to bear the cost of the procedure and provide guidance to communities on the necessary biosecurity measures. Also according to the ministerial body, the recommendation seeks to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and Convention 169 of the ILO, which guarantee respect for beliefs, culture, customs and traditions of indigenous peoples.

No response

CENARIUM MAGAZINE sought answers from the Ministry of Health, through the Special Secretariat of Indigenous Health, but the calls were not answered, from the contacts available on the official social networking pages of the agency. The report wanted to inquire about the MPF’s recommendation and whether or not the ministry would in fact comply with the recommendation.