Brazilian Indians threaten energy towers

By Barry Healy

According to a statement from the Indianist Missionary Council, the Pankararu Indians in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco are ready to burn down power transmission towers if actions to remove invaders from their 8100-hectare indigenous area are not taken by September.

If the towers, which belong to the Paulo Afonso power plant, are burned, six states in the Brazilian north-east may be without electricity.

The Pankararu are adopting the same tactic as the Krikati in Maranhao. In February, the Krikati destroyed two transmission towers belonging to the Tucurui power plant and thereby managed to have their lands protected.

The conflict between the Pankararu and squatters has been going on for 40 years.

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