New phase focuses efforts on attacking criminal infrastructures
By 2T (RM2-T) Larissa Vieira
The Brazilian Navy, together with the other Armed Forces, has intensified the fight against illegal mining in the Yanomami Indigenous Land (TIY), in Roraima, as part of Operation “Catrimani II”, coordinated by the Ministry of Defense, which began on April 1. The Catrimani II Joint Operational Command post, located in Boa Vista (RR), operates in close collaboration with Public Security Agencies and Bodies, as well as the Government House in Roraima. The aim is to strengthen the protection of indigenous peoples in the region.
Scheduled to run until December 31, this new phase of the Operation is named after the Catrimani River, one of the rivers most affected by illegal mining, and focuses on combating illegal activities and environmental crimes in the region. The main objective is to remove people who are occupying the area illegally and to destroy the infrastructure used by the miners.
“Since the beginning of April, we have been more repressive, seeking to neutralize, in coordination with the Security Forces, the mining infrastructure inside the indigenous lands. We’re attacking the logistics of this activity,” said the Chief of Staff of the Operation, Rear Admiral Luís Manuel de Campos Mello.
In addition to repressive actions, Operation “Catrimani II” also includes structuring and permanent measures to protect the Yanomami indigenous peoples, such as the deployment of border detachments, bases to support operations and health support, as well as river blockade posts.
Logistical challenges
The Yanomami Indigenous Land region is home to approximately 27,000 indigenous people and has a territorial extension larger than Portugal, characterized by dense forests and few navigable resources, which makes access challenging and almost entirely dependent on air support. The airstrips in the interior of the forests are precarious and often do not offer suitable conditions for fixed-wing aircraft, making the use of helicopters mandatory. The pilot of the Navy aircraft used in the operation, Super Cougar (UH-15), Corvette Captain Walter Vinicius Antunes Dias, says that the great distances and dense forests are a challenge. “The alternative landing sites in case of need are remote, which requires the crew to pay extra attention to planning and conducting the flight. In addition, the weather in the region at this time of year is unstable, with the appearance of rainy formations during the day and fog in the treetops in the mornings,” he said.
“Catrimani I”
The first stage of Operation “Catrimani”, which took place from January to March, focused on humanitarian aid provided by the Armed Forces. Assistance was provided to more than 230 indigenous communities, including transport of cargo and fuel, aeromedical evacuation and distribution of food baskets, totaling 360 tons of food delivered. In this logistical effort, the military flew more than 2,400 hours in 36 aircraft from the three forces.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***