12/09/2019

Attacks on indigenous communities in the Amazon region

Indigenous environmentalists killed in Brazil (Press Release)

There have been several attacks against indigenous environmentalists during the past years. For the most part, the attacks are carried out by criminals who illegally harvest wood or mine gold on indigenous land. Under President Bolsonaro's rule, attackers are even less likely to be punished. It has become really dangerous to show commitment for the Amazon region.

Last Saturday, two indigenous men, members of the Guajajara, were shot dead in the state of Maranhao in northeastern Brazil. Two others were injured in the attack. The men were on motorcycles when they were shot at from a passing car. "There have been several attacks against indigenous environmentalists during the past years. For the most part, the attacks are carried out by criminals who illegally harvest wood or mine gold on indigenous land," explained Regina Sonk, expert on indigenous peoples, on behalf of the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP). "Under President Bolsonaro's rule, attackers are even less likely to be punished. It has become really dangerous to show commitment for the Amazon region."

"In our opinion, the partnership relations between Germany and Brazil – between the German federal ministries and the Brazilian government, for example – should be put on hold as long as these attacks are not investigated appropriately," Sonk stated. "Brazil must take action to put an end to impunity for attacks against indigenous people!" Brazilian NGOs are calling on the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General, and the Congress of Brazil to investigate. In a statement, Sonia Guajajara, national coordinator of the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples Articulation (APIB), emphasized: "These crimes are not isolated cases. They reflect the hatred against us indigenous peoples, and even the highest state institutions are involved in this. [...] We demand justice. These crimes must not go unpunished."

The attack last weekend took place in the Cana Brava Sanctuary, which covers 137,000 hectares in Maranhao state and has 4,500 residents, according to the government. Not far away, Paulo Paul Guajajara, a forest ranger for the defense of indigenous territory, had been assassinated by illegal loggers only last month.