Brazil -Indigenous people struggle and attacks from the police - infosolidarity

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Indigenous Land in Brazil Attacked with Bombs and the Indigenous People Counterattacks

The 15^th of April the indigenous Land (IL) Bananal, located in the north-east of Distrito Federal and only 5 km away from the Terra Livre Camp, got under attack of the Military Police, who arrived on horseback and with machinery to destroy houses. An indigenous peasant gave alert about the police encirclement in an audio sent to A Nova Democracia. The village Teko Haw, in dispute with the Development Agency of Distrito Federal (Terracap), has favorable court decisions for the indigenous people, but this did not stop the invasion. During the attack an indigenous stated to have a legal order that prohibits the invasion, but the policemen ignored the document and began firing teargas.

The indigenous people, who do not simply abandon their land, defended themselves with working tools. The Leader Francisco Guajajara denounced that the invasion took place after an important meeting about land and to criticise of the inactivity of the government. Another indigenous, Txanu spoke about a previous murder intent, in which a bomb was thrown into his place, and the lack of answer by the Federal Police, who dismissed his denounce.

The situation reflects a growing conflict between the indigenous communities and the authorities, that usually acts in favor of the private interests. Despite the legal decisions and the attempts of the indigenous people to defend their right, the violence and the repression continues, proving the lack of protection and respect towards their territories and culture.

A correspondent of AND in the federal district spoke with the lawyer Eduardo Queiroz of the Public Defense Council of the Union (DPU), who informed that the DPU solicited the prohibition of construction works in the village, but the legal power rejected it in favor of the Development Agency of Distrito Federal (Terracap). On the 8^th of April the Regional Federal Tribunal of the 1^st Region revoke a decision that prevented the removal of the families in square 308, in which the IL is located. This measure was against a motion of the National Foundation of Indigenous People (Funai), that tried to protect the indigenous communities.

Queiroz outlined, that the DPU tries to create a room of negotiations to avoid conflicts and risks for the Guajajara community, that was awaiting for a resolution during years. Nevertheless, the State seems to have unlikely the disposition to avoid the escalation of the situation, having the Terracap already invaded the IL Bananal with machinery and military escort, destroying a part of the village’s vegetation.

The process on square 308 is very extensive and has evidence in favor of the indigenous people, including an anthropologic sight of 2011 that recognizes their rights on the land. Despite the agreements, the repression continues on the indigenous land.

Indigenous people close ATL with a promise to struggle against the far right and they criticize the false left.

“[In the face of] a global and national scenario marked by the advance of the far right and systematic attacks on our rights, we reaffirm the importance of resistance and collective struggle,” wrote the Indigenous peoples who signed the final letter of the 21^st edition of the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL).

The event brought together around 8,000 Indigenous people from 150 ethnic groups across Brazil and concluded last Friday (April 11). In the letter, the organizations also criticized the lack of a land demarcation policy by the false left government and the advancement of reactionary laws in the National Congress and the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

The “Temporary Framework” law was a central objective for the Indigenous people. They demanded the repeal of Law 14,701, defending that also lands occupied since 1988 can be demarcated, and the end of the conciliation table in the STF.

According to the document this measure represents a new attack on their fundamental rights, with the participation of the National Congress and the federal government themselves who still defend the continuation of the commission. “We will not accept maneuvers that weaken our rights,” the statement asserts.

Demoralized Government

Speaking of the federal government, Luiz Inácio (PT) also received harsh criticism. The president was condemned for failing to fulfill his campaign promise to demarcate Indigenous lands (TIs). This was the first time that the president did not attend the ATL, did not meet with leaders at the Palácio do Planalto, and did not demarcate any TI’s during the event.

But things got worse for the government when thousands of protesting Indigenous people were harshly repressed on April 10 by the Military and Legislative police.

The incident was reported on the same day, April 10, by various organizations and was highlighted in the final letter. “The security forces, which should protect us, are the same ones that attack us in our territories,” the letter states.

The document was signed by the Articulations of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), from the Southeast Region (Arpinsudeste), the South Region (Arpinsul), the Northeast, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo (Apoinme), by the Guarani Yvyrupa Commission, the Terena People’s Council, the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab), and the Great Assembly of the Guarani Kaiowá People (Aty Guasu).