Minister silences Ibama

The Minister of the Environment formally forbid IBAMA to respond to press queries, in practice silencing the agency on giving interviews and other public declarations. Journalists reported that when sending written questions to IBAMA’s communications sector they received a note indicating that they should call the press advisor for the Ministry of Environment directly. This was an unprecedented measure that hurt the autonomy of IBAMA; according to the Law, the agency is supervised by the Ministry but not subordinated to it.