In partnership with the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso do Sul, more than 600 consultations were carried out in an expedition on the Paraguay River
Between April 22nd and 26th, the Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese), through the Command of the 6th Naval District, provided logistical support to the project “Courts in Action in the Traditional Communities of Mato Grosso do Sul – Guató Indigenous Expedition.” The partnership is the result of a Mutual Cooperation Agreement between MB and the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso do Sul (TJMS).
During the operation, the River Transport Ship “Paraguassu”, subordinated to the Mato Grosso Flotilla Command, transported 92 people, including civilians and military personnel, and sailed about 550 kilometers along the Paraguay River for five days. Due to the low water level, the ship landed in the region of Ponta do Morro, about 50 km from the village of Uberaba. Other vessels were then employed to support and complete the journey: the “Esperança do Pantanal” Floating School Agency and two rigid-hulled vessels, from the Pantanal River Captaincy; the Riverine Operations Boat (LOpRib) “Del Guaíra”, of the Mato Grosso Riverine Operations Vessel Group; vessels of the Environmental Military Police; and one belonging to the indigenous people.
The Cooperation Agreement, formalized in March of this year, aims to bring services of the Judiciary to places where there is a need to travel via river transport, aiming to provide care and access to justice in the traditional communities of Mato Grosso do Sul.
With the partnership of several agencies and institutions, the Expedition offered several services, among them: opening lawsuits, without a lawyer, of up to 20 minimum wages; legal assistance; issuance of civil registry and marriage certificates; registration of bulletins and orientations; registration, alteration and regularization of CPF; social, health, and dental work; preventive exams; vaccination of dogs and cats; Lectures; preparation of the first and second copy of the identity card; as well as guidance, information and printing of statements. In all, 624 services were performed.
For the Commander of the 6th Naval District, Vice Admiral Iunis Távora Said, this Expedition is an example of how different sectors of society can come together to achieve a common goal. “Together, we can ensure that all citizens have fair and equitable access to justice, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status. In this sense, with the use of our personnel and naval assets, we can and will continue to support several other commissions like this one, which aim to expand and enforce rights and citizenship in the hard-to-reach regions of our Pantanal,” he said.
“Welcome to our community.” These were the first words of the chief of the village of Uberaba, Osvaldo Corrêa da Costa, in his speech at the opening ceremony of the activities. “I want to thank you for the action, which is happening for the first time, here, to help our indigenous people, to make the documents of our relatives, our children, our grandchildren. This is important. We are glad that you are here to get to know our reality. Feel free to carry out this work, get to know our fair, talk to our elders, take souvenirs,” he added.
The President of the Supervisory Council of the Special Courts, Judge Alexandre Bastos, highlighted the importance of the partnership. “Everything was only possible thanks to the unconditional support of the Navy, which has the ability to reach the most difficult regions throughout the country. We piggyback on this expertise and, in this way, we are managing to promote actions that remind us of the essence of what we do, we are really very satisfied and fulfilled”.