Indigenous people from Amazonas who are fighting against mining and the exploitation of fossil fuels in their territories, during their participation in the international seminar ‘Indigenous peoples and traditional communities facing the challenges of climate emergencies’ in Manaus, said that they feel threatened and watched as they move around their communities in their routine activities, whether fishing or working in the fields. They claim that, in recent months, drones have been seen flying over their communities.

According to indigenous Mura from the village of Lago do Soares, in the municipality of Autazes, many drones have been seen flying over the community. A representative of the Mura said: ‘Many families are despairing, others have not been able to sleep at night and are worried about what they are not used to hearing in their territory.’

The indigenous people of Autazes have also reported recent veiled threats, such as anonymous phone calls, including Sérgio Nascimento, who until months ago was the main leader.

The village of Soares has become the epicentre of a dispute between the Mura and Brazil Potash. Since 2015, the company has been trying to make potash exploration viable at the Autazes deposit, but the project will have direct impacts on indigenous territories of the Mura ethnic group. The Federal Court states that the environmental licence for the project will only be granted by Ibama after consultation with the impacted communities.