Brasília

Illegal miners in Para are demanding that Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni and environmental Minister Richardo Salles open an investigation against environmental officials who destroyed equipment used in environmental crimes.

The meeting with Salles that occurred Monday at the Chief of Staff’s office did not appear on the agenda published by the Minister of the Environment. Onyx did not include the names of the illegal miners on the schedule. Only The names of the government representatives were included as if it were an internal meeting between public organs, and the Pará governor, Helder Barbalho (MDB). In the afternoon, the office of the Chief of Staff published news about the subject on its site.

Officials destroyed equipment used in environmental crimes. Foto: Ibama/PF

While the illegal miners were in Brazil, others also organized a five-day blockade of the BR-163 road, close to Itaituba (PA). The protest was in response to an inspection operation by Ibama, ICMBio and that Força Nacional that caught an invasion of Crepori National Forest, an area protected by environmental legislation. Based on the law applied since 2008, inspectors burned at least two backhoes and various engines used by prospectors in environmental crimes.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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