
Brazil: Indigenous people occupy SEDUC after changes in indigenous education in Pará
We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by A Nova Democracia.
More than 100 indigenous protesters from different ethnicity from Pará occupied the headquarters of the State Department of Education (SEDUC) in the capital Belém on Tuesday morning, January 14. Protesters are protesting against the end of guidelines and guarantees for the indigenous education system in the State, additionally demanding to expel Education Secretary, Rossieli Soares (PSDB – Party of Brazilian Socialdemocracy).
The indigenous people broke the headquarters gate and entered the building, demanding the presence of governor Helder Barbalho (MDB – Brazilian Democratic Movement) and education secretary Rossieli Soares, who refused to appear. In retaliation, the building’s electricity was cut off. The indigenous people reported that the police pepper sprayed the bathrooms to prevent their use by the occupants, additionally blocking donated food and the press from entering the headquarters.
Law 10,820, approved at the end of last year, affected the Modular Education System (SOME) and Modular Indigenous Education System (SOMEI), which serves indigenous and rural communities in the interior of the State in remote locations, that is, essential to guarantee the provision of public education in these locations. The law revoked all guidelines of SOMEI, therefore, leaving the modality without any legislation. Another reason that motivated the occupation was the state’s project to implement online classes using TVs for these remote communities. These changes promoted by SEDUC were made without any consultation with indigenous peoples and refusing to attend them.
The protesters publicly stated that they will only leave the building after a hearing with the governor, the dismissal of Rossieli and the repeal of law 10,820 of 2024. As part of the same movement, the indigenous people blocked the BR 222 highway, between the municipalities of Marabá and Bom Jesus of Tocantins, which remained closed until Thursday, January 16.