The Indianist Missionary Council (Cimi) launched today (March 4) the 2006-2007 report on Violence Against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, which contains data on violence against indigenous peoples and on violations of their rights.

For about 20 years, Cimi has been monitoring cases of violence involving indigenous peoples through the field work of missionaries and stories published in newspapers throughout Brazil. The report was launched during the 46th General Assembly of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), which was held in the municipality of Indaiatuba, state of São Paulo.

The report addresses acts of violence against assets of indigenous peoples, such as territorial conflicts, environmental damages and violence against individuals, including murders, threats and racism. The report also addresses acts of violence resulting from the inaction of public authorities, such as suicides, child mortality and neglect of indigenous health care. The report’s final chapter presents data on threats against isolated indigenous peoples with little contact with the non-indigenous society living in the state of Amazonas.

Some of the main topics addressed in the report are presented below.

In 2007, the number of indigenous people murdered in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul increased by 99%

Similarly to the report disseminated in 2006, the most impressive data presented in the 2006-2007 report on Violence Against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil refer to the number of indigenous people murdered in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Fifty-three indigenous people were murdered in 2007 and 27 in 2006, that is, the number of murders increased by 99% between these two years. The number of indigenous people murdered between 2006 and 2007 throughout Brazil increased by 64%, from 57 to 92 cases – according to Cimi’s records.

Most of these murders, whose perpetrators have been identified, were committed by indigenous people during fights, many of which between relatives. Most of the cases registered in 2006 (24 cases) and in 2007 (31 cases) had not been solved as the report was being drawn up. In many cases, indigenous people are found dead several days after they are killed.

Since most of these murders took place in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, it can be noticed that tension has been increasing in the daily routine of Guarani-Kaiowá communities, which live in very small land areas, in camps along roads and in demarcated areas comprising different Tekohás (traditional lands). As a result of this situation, they are left with little space to grow their crops and, as a result, they end up looking for paid jobs outside their villages as a last resort.

According to an analysis made by the anthropologist Lúcia Rangel, who prepared the report, “the situation facing the Guarani-Kaiowá people remains the same as the one described in the report on Violence against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil between 2003 and 2005; the data show that a true genocide is still under way in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul: the number of murders, attempted murders, and suicides is on the rise, as well as malnutrition, child mortality and alcoholism rates and different kinds of acts of violence and threats. They are run over by cars, beg in cities, suffer sexual violence, are arrested. Large plantations (sugarcane, soybeans, corn) encroach on their lands and extensive livestock activities are carried out near the area they live in, contaminating their water springs with pesticides and causing different diseases, in addition to undermining family agriculture.”

Degrading working conditions and murders in sugarcane plants

The 2006-2007 report highlights the impacts of the increasing number of sugarcane plants on indigenous peoples in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The report addresses cases of indigenous people working under extremely degrading conditions or under conditions similar to slavery in sugarcane farms and plants. In March 2007, 150 indigenous people who were hired to harvest sugarcane at a mill owned by the company Destilaria Centro Oeste Iguatemi Ltda. (Dcoil) were set free by labor inspectors of the Regional Labor Office in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In November of the same year, the Special Mobile Inspection Group of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) found 1,011 indigenous people living under degrading conditions in the Debrasa sugarcane plant. Most of them belonged to the Guarani-Kaiowá people and many others to the Terena people. According to Lúcia Rangel, “apart from their degrading working conditions, it seems that four indigenous people died in their lodgings there. Underage indigenous people falsify their IDs to be able to work as sugarcane harvesters after being deceived by false promises of high wages, and as a result they stop attending school in their villages or nearby cities, circumvent the law and leave their parents worried.”

Paid jobs in sugarcane farms and plants have become a common alternative for male indigenous people in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, since the Guarani-Kaiowá have been suffering the effects of lack of land, unemployment and overpopulation in their villages, and some of them were forced to live in camps along roads. In some of their villages, less than 1 hectare is available for each individual, making it impossible for them to preserve their traditional lifestyle.

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In the state of Maranhão, exploitation of natural resources leads to violence and deaths

In 2007, the state of Maranhão experienced the second highest murder rate ever. Ten indigenous people have reportedly died and three of these deaths are related to illegal timber exploitation in the Araribóia indigenous land, of the Guajajara people. In October 2007, a group of woodcutters killed Thomas Guajajara and injured two other indigenous people. The constant presence of woodcutters and the deforestation caused by them have also become a threat to a group of at least 60 people of the Awá Guajá people who live in this land without any contact with the surrounding society.

Also in the state of Maranhão, the Guajajara people continue to suffer the consequences of the presence of the Vale (formerly Vale do Rio Doce) company in their territory. In 2006, indigenous people died in the state as a result of the mismanagement of a railroad built by the Vale company in the Maranduba land of the Guajajara people. In August 2006, a person died after being electrocuted by a high-voltage power line accidentally cut by a locomotive. The company was informed about the accidental cutting of the power line, but failed to take any measures. The other case was that of an indigenous person who was run over by a train of the Vale company.

Invasions with the intent to take possession

In 2006, Cimi registered 32 cases of invasions of indigenous lands with the intent to take possession of them and exploit natural resources in them in the states of Amazonas (4), Bahia (1), Ceará (2), Maranhão (1), Mato Grosso (3), Mato Grosso do Sul (4), Pará (4), Rondônia (2), Roraima (9), Tocantins (1), and Santa Catarina (1). In 2007, 14 cases were registered in the state of Acre and in the above-mentioned states. Invaders include squatters, land grabbers, farmers, woodcutters, miners, as well as national and international enterprises and state agents such as Federal and Military Police officers.

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Tupinikim and Guarani peoples in 2006 –delay of the State to demarcate indigenous lands leads to volence

Amongst the cases of violence registered in 2006, Cimi stressed the conflict between the Aracruz Celulose company and the Tupinikim and Guarani peoples in the state of Espírito Santo. A dispute for an 11,000-ha area ended in August 2007 after the minister of Justice issued an administrative ruling declaring that the area, which was occupied by eucalyptus plantations of the Aracruz company, was an indigenous land.

In 2005, the conflict, which had been taking place for decades, increased considerably. As a result, it took a long time for the government to settle the issue and it failed to comply with all legal deadlines provided for in Decree 1775/98, which regulates the procedures for demarcating indigenous lands. At the same time, the Tupinikim and Guarani peoples were victims of abuse of power, acts of violence, threats, racism and other similar acts. On some occasions, such as when indigenous villages were destroyed in January 2006, the State and the Aracruz Cellulose company acted jointly.

Several acts of violence against indigenous peoples resulted from the State’s inaction and delay to officially define the bounds of indigenous lands. In 2006, Cimi registered twenty-six cases of inaction, delays or non-compliance with deadlines for officially demarcating indigenous lands. Many such processes are or were stalled in the states of Acre (1), Bahia (3), Mato Grosso do Sul (1), Pará (1), Paraná (2), Rio de Janeiro (2), Rio Grande do Sul (4), Santa Catarina (8), Espírito Santo (1), and São Paulo (4). In 2007, 20 such cases related to the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Bahia, Paraíba, Acre, Pará, and Rio Grande do Sul were registered. 

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The summary tables below show acts of violence registered by Cimi between 2006-2007:

Disputes related to territorial rights

Invasions with the intent to take possession, illegal exploitation of natural resources and damages caused to assets of indigenous peoples

Environmental and biological damages

Inaction and delay to officially demarcate indigenous lands

Murders

Attempted murders

Manslaughter

Death threats

Year	Cases	Victims
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