The Indigenist Missionary Council (CIMI) states its repudiation and its indignation over the actions of the government in Mato Grosso do Sul in impeding the working groups created by the National Foundation for Indigenous Affairs (FUNAI) from proceeding with the anthropological studies in the region, aggressing against the constitutional rights of the indigenous peoples, especially the Guarani-Kaiowá and Terena peoples.

 

We are also indignant with the neglect of the Federal Government that nothing is done given the attacks practiced by “security agents” of the farmers against the indigenous communities; with the lack of security for the working groups that develop the identification studies of the areas; and with the morosity in the execution of the procedures of demarcation of the lands in that state, as determined by the directives of the indigenist agency.

In the month of October, the temporary huts of two Guarani-Kaiowá communities were burned down by “security agents” of the farms. On the occasion, the indigenous man, Eugênio Goçalves, 62 years of age, was shot.

 

In the month of November, after a violent and illegal eviction carried out by “security agents”, two Guarani-Kaiowá, Genivaldo Vera and Rolindo Vera, were dragged by the hair and abducted. Days later, the body of one of them was found with marks of violence, tied to a tree branch, in the Ypoi creek, 30 miles from the scene of the crime. The police suspended the searches for the disappeared teacher, at the same time in which the governor André Puccineli stated in the local press, the nefarious suspicion that that the teacher had fled after murdering his relative, with whom he was active in education and in the recovery of the territory of his people. 

 

Another criminal fact occurred on 19 November, aggravating still further the climate of tension and violence. On that occasion, a battalion from the Military Police of Mato Grosso do Sul protected 80 armed men of a private militia that carried out the eviction of a Terena community, in contumacy of decision by the Tribunal Regional Federal, 3 Region, which determined that the Terena people were to remain in those lands, until that principal action brought against the demarcation is judged.

 

We are informed that the community of Kurussú Ambá, of the Guarani-Kaiowá people, undertook a retaking of part of their traditional territory, on the border between Amambaí and Coronel Sapucaia. According to information received from indigenous leaders, in response to this occupation, on the night of 25/11, more than 10 vehicles transporting armed men, accompanied by vehicles of the DOF/Military Police, discharged dozens of firearms against the community and threatened to evict the indigenous people, at the light of day and at any cost. In the years 2007 and 2008 in that community alone three indigenous people have been murdered without any investigation being concluded.

 

Given such facts, we demand that the Ministry of Justice, by means of the Federal Police,  investigate the acts of violence and prosecute the disarmament of the private militias involved in actions against the indigenous peoples, as well as determine that a serious and ample investigation proceed as to the illegal actions of the farmers and that these be judicially denounced.

 

We emphasize that the guarantee of physical integrity of the indigenous peoples is the responsibility of the federal Government.

 

CIMI, which defends the Democratic State of Law, points to the necessity of a federal intervention in Mato Grosso do Sul, as the only way of countering the process of genocide against the indigenous peoples initiated in that state of the federal union and to guarantee the constitutional rights of all.

 

Once again, we state that the demarcation of the indigenous lands is fundamental so that the peoples are able to live in dignity. CIMI calls on Brazilian society to unite in the struggle of the Guarani-Kaiowá, Terena and other peoples threatened in their physical cultural survival.

 

We add ourselves to the Guarani-Kaiowá who state that they do not understand a nation in which “a head of cattle is more valuable than a child”. 

 

Luziânia-Goias, 26 November of 2009.

 

Cimi – Conselho Indigenista Missionário

Indigenist Missionary Council