The coronavirus is only one of many threats Brazil's indigenous communities have to deal with. Last Friday, the indigenous leaders Kretã Kaingang and Dinamam Tuxá emphasised held a video conversation with Omid Nouripour, the foreign policy spokesman of the Green Party parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. They emphasized that another serious threat – in addition to the pandemic – is the anti-indigenous policy of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. "Since he took office, Bolsonaro managed to undermine several environmental protection regulations, thus encouraging invasions of indigenous territory," explained Juliana Miyazaki, expert on indigenous peoples at the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), who co-organized the debate. "The invaders are introducing the coronavirus into indigenous communities, while anti-indigenous racism leads to further problems regarding the already quite worrying medical care situation."

"This devastating situation has to become more visible," Nouripour emphasized. "Germany and Europe have a duty to support Brazil's indigenous peoples in their fight against this humanitarian catastrophe." This is not only a problematic issue for the indigenous communities themselves, but concerns the whole world.

Kretã Kaingang, leader of the territory of Tupã Nhe'é Crete, stressed the importance of the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, arguing that it should not be ratified in its current version. If it came into force unchanged, it would lead to further environmental damage, destruction of the rainforest, and violations of indigenous rights. The agreement is currently a top priority for Bolsonaro, and a ratification would strengthen him and confirm his policy. "European and German companies are already profiting from the destruction of Amazonia through logging, mining, and agribusiness," Dimamam Tuxá added.

"Germany must keep up the pressure in the Mercosur debate," Nouripour said. "To this end, it is important to also promote a dialogue between the indigenous communities and the members of parliament of the European states and the European Parliament – to discuss the possible effects of the agreement."

Kretã and Dinamam also discussed the effects of the planned Free Trade Agreement during an online seminar organized by the STP together with Climate Alliance and the Norwegian Rainforest Foundation. A recording of the seminar (from June 15, 2020) can be found here.