A committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday (8) an invitation to General Augusto Heleno, minister of the GSI (Institutional Security Office) of the Presidency, to explain the authorization for the advance of prospecting in preserved areas in the Amazon.
Heleno’s decision to authorize the advancement of seven gold exploration projects in a virtually untouched Amazon region was revealed in a report by leaf.
The application, authored by deputy Elias Vaz (PSB-GO), was approved in a symbolic vote by the Financial Inspection and Control Commission. The initial document sought to summon the minister, but ended up being converted into an invitation due to lack of support.
As it is an invitation, the minister is not required to attend.
The application also extended the invitation to members of the National Mining Agency.
Heleno, who works at Planalto Palace and is one of the main advisers to Jair Bolsonaro (PL), is executive secretary of the Defense Council, the body that advises the president on matters of sovereignty and defense.
As a representative of the council, he authorized seven gold research fronts on Brazil’s border with Colombia and Venezuela, in the region known as Cabeça do Cachorro. It’s the first time this has happened in at least ten years.
It is up to the GSI minister to give approval or not to mining projects in the border strip, with a width of 150 km.
Based on projects submitted by the ANM (National Mining Agency), the general authorized in 2021 seven gold research projects in the region of São Gabriel da Cachoeira (AM).
The MPF (Federal Public Ministry) in Amazonas opened an investigation procedure to analyze the authorizations signed by the minister, also on Monday.
The GSI minister defended the authorizations given. “sheet of S.Paulo ignores Law 6.634/79 and decree 85.064/80. It is legal to authorize the exploration/mining of minerals along the border, including the Amazon. Respecting the legislation and the environment, we will continue to map our wealth for the good of Brazil and our people,” stated the minister in a post on a social network.
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