Governor of SC argues with indigenous people, gets angry and offends protester The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) opened a news report to investigate reports of an argument between the governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello (PL), and a group of indigenous protesters from José Boiteux, in the Itajaí Valley. The case occurred on July 8 during a visit by the chief executive to the local dam that passes through a construction site and is within the traditional territory of the Xokleng people. On that occasion, he even addressed a group of protesters with the phrase "Go to the bitch who gave birth to you". ?Click and follow the g1 SC channel on WhatsApp At the time, the government of Santa Catarina stated in a statement that "a group of indigenous people approached the site in protest, with posters and various demands, including issues of federal responsibility and topics that are not directly linked to the state government". The statement, however, does not make references to the offenses made by the governor (see the full note at the end of the report). Governor of SC argues with indigenous people and offends protesters at dam The MPF did not release any further information about the actual news. However, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) sent a letter to the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) asking for the establishment of an investigation procedure to understand what happened on July 8. The MPF reported that it has already received other statements about the case, but that it has not located the CNDH request. In the letter, the Council stated that "Freedom of expression for political agents does not eliminate responsibility for demonstrations carried out in the exercise of public functions. Political debate allows energetic criticism, but does not authorize the State to humiliate, intimidate or discriminate against people and groups based on their identity, their organization or the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights". Governor Jorginho Mello curses indigenous people during a protest at the José Boiteux dam Reproduction Video shows discussion between governor and protesters at dam The first situation occurred while the governor was giving an interview, stating that he was "restoring everything that was destroyed by the indigenous people". Then, Jorginho interrupted his speech, looked in the direction of the protesters and said: "Go to the bitch who gave birth to him". When resuming the interview, Jorginho said that the government "has never been in such a good phase". A woman questions his statements and the governor rebuts her: "don't you want to go to hell"? The woman responds that she is a chief and demands respect. The governor, in turn, asks: "What about me?" Dam has been the target of controversy since the 1990s The dam has been the target of controversy since its origins, in the 1990s. At the time, the federal government was responsible for construction within legally demarcated indigenous land. However, it was the state's responsibility to operate the dam when it rains. The problem is that it was not defined who would bear the losses suffered by the villagers and the situation became the subject of impasses between the two sides. After more than 20 years of discussions and with the need to operate the dam, the state government committed to building houses and other structures as a form of compensation to the local community for operating in the area. The so-called North Dam is the largest in Santa Catarina and is located in a region that historically suffers from flooding and floods. The built structure is an instrument for containing the floods that eventually reach Blumenau, the most important city in the region, and neighboring municipalities. North Dam, in José Boiteux Mauricio Vieira/Secom/Disclosure What the government of SC says This Wednesday, July 8, Governor Jorginho Mello closely followed the renovation of the José Boiteux Dam, a project awaited for more than 20 years and considered strategic for the safety of thousands of residents of the Itajaí Valley. During the visit, a group of indigenous people approached the site in protest, with posters and various demands, including issues of federal responsibility and topics that are not directly linked to the State Government. The current administration highlights that it was the first, after three decades, to effectively take on the maintenance of the dam and to move forward in fulfilling an agreement signed around 20 years ago between the Federal Government, State Government and indigenous communities. According to the court agreement, 20 houses were planned. However, state management decided to expand these planned improvements. The agreed works include the construction of 91 houses, two churches and two pastoral houses: R$ 14.6 million; implementation and macadamization of the road that connects Aldeia Bugio to the municipality of José Boiteux, with a length of 7.5 kilometers and construction of a bridge: R$ 7 million; construction of the indigenous community school: R$6.5 million; construction of a museum, football pitch and toilets: R$5.5 million; school and museum project: R$217 thousand. In total, the State is investing around R$34 million in structural improvements in the Ibirama-La Klãnõ Indigenous Land, where José Boiteux's North Dam is located, fulfilling a judicial order from the 90s that should have been carried out by the Federal Government, through Funai, but has been neglected since then. Even in the face of demonstrations, the Government states that it will maintain the schedule for the renovation of the dam and houses, as it understands that the works are essential to protect lives and reduce the risk of flooding in the Itajaí Valley. VIDEOS: most watched g1 SC in the last 7 days