Indigenous groups occupying Cargill's headquarters in Santarém, Pará, have decided to continue their indefinite protest against the Tapajós river dredging plan, claiming the government abandoned negotiations. Despite this, the federal government announced the suspension of the bidding process for hiring a company responsible for the works. The action, lasting 16 days, demands the revocation of a decree including the waterway in a privatization program.
Indigenous people from 14 groups in the Lower Tapajós, represented by the Tapajós and Arapiuns Indigenous Council (Cita), began the protest 16 days ago by occupying Cargill's headquarters in Santarém, Pará, opposing the federal government's waterways plan. They demand the revocation of decree no. 12.600/2025, from August 2025, which included sections of the Tapajós, Madeira, and Tocantins rivers in the National Privatization Program (PND). The group also demands free, prior, and informed consultations with communities, as per ILO Convention 169 and the Federal Constitution.
Meetings with government representatives took place on Wednesday (4) and Thursday (5), with Marcelo Fragoso, chief of staff of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, representing Minister Guilherme Boulos. However, on Friday (6), the indigenous groups stated that the dialogue was abandoned, without feedback on the counterproposal that includes annulment of the bidding, revocation of the decree, and publication in the Official Gazette. Fragoso did not attend the scheduled meeting.
On Friday night, Ministers Guilherme Boulos (General Secretariat), Silvio Costa Filho (Ports and Airports), and Sônia Guajajara (Indigenous Peoples) issued a statement suspending the bidding that qualified a company for dredging at R$ 61.8 million, without an environmental license, at seven points between Itaituba and Santarém. The government established an interministerial working group with indigenous representatives to discuss consultations. The statement reaffirms the COP30 commitment, in November 2025, to conduct prior consultations, a promise not fulfilled.
Documents from Ibama, ICMBio, and Semas-PA indicate significant dredging impacts, such as changes in water quality, silting, harm to fishing and Amazon turtle reproduction, as well as risks to food security for riverside and indigenous communities. The Dnit, responsible for the maintenance work to transport grains, admitted the lack of a license and started bidding for environmental studies on January 19, 2026.
On the first day of negotiations, protesters blocked Avenida Fernando Guilhon with burning barricades leading to Santarém airport, canceling three flights, according to Aena. The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples acknowledges the concerns and states that no initiative will proceed without the peoples' consent.
