The federal government’s omission in recent years and the dismantling of policies to protect indigenous peoples have led to a growing wave of violence against indigenous peoples across the country.
In Maranhão, the indigenous people of the Guajajara ethnic group, one of the most numerous in Brazil, have suffered from successive violent attacks, especially from illegal loggers.
On January 9 of this year, two Guajajara youths were shot as they walked along a road that crosses the Araribóia Indigenous Land, which comprises the municipalities of Arame, Buriticupu, Amarante do Maranhão, Bom Jesus das Selvas and Santa Luzia.
:: In the fourth attack in 4 months, two Guajajara indigenous people are shot in the head in Maranhão ::
Valdemar Guajajara was found dead inside a civil construction, with marks of beatings / Reproduction
Read more: Indigenous Guajajara people found dead in TI Araribóia, Maranhão
Shortly afterwards, on the 25th of the same month, the indigenous José Inácio Guajajara was murdered, less than a week later, on the 28th of January, Valdemar Guajajara was murdered and on the 31st, Raimundo Ribeiro, servant of the Secretariat of Indigenous Health, also known as “little doctor” and married to the indigenous leader, Marta Guajajara.
“Recently there was the murder of two indigenous people here in the municipality of Arame, the situation is very serious, so we once again ask for justice, so that these authorities take measures as quickly as possible. We need more security. The indigenous population is suffering threats, murders of bandits who have been attacking our people, within our reserve”, denounces the leader of the Juçaral village, Frederico Guajajara.
According to the Report on Violence against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, between 2009 and 2022, 42 indigenous people were murdered in the State of Maranhão, including 32 Guajajaras, 4 Kaapor, 3 Timbiras, 1 Kanela Apanyekrá, 1 Kanela Ramkokamekrá and 1 Gamela.
The Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) has been monitoring the cases and points out that the certainty of impunity, when it comes to crimes against indigenous peoples, is one of the factors that keeps the rates so alarming.
“Violence against the indigenous peoples of Maranhão has worried indigenous leaders due to the fact that many of these crimes continue without people being able to respond, that is, they are unpunished. Impunity has been a worrying factor in the case of violence against indigenous peoples”, explains the regional coordinator of CIMI, Gilderlan Rodrigues.
In a meeting, the Rights Commission of the OAB-MA heard claims from 47 chiefs in the region. / Matheus Knives
The murder of Valdemar Guajajara happened just one day after a meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the OAB in the state, which was attended by 47 chiefs from the region.
According to the President of the Human Rights Commission of the OAB in the state of Maranhão, Erik Moraes, in addition to the violence, several other violations of human rights were reported.
“There was a moment of listening with chiefs from 109 villages. Several violations of human rights were reported, all of them guaranteed in the Constitution, in the Indigenous Statute, such as the right to life, given the insecurity in the place.”
Moraes explains that after the meeting, the OAB will officially communicate all bodies related to the mentioned problems, such as the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Human Rights, of Original Peoples, Funai, State Governments and City Halls.
The creation of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples is seen as reparation and respect for the peoples’ way of life / Sergio Lima/AFP
New perspectives
The protection of indigenous peoples is a prerogative of the Brazilian State, through the federal government.
After years of dismantling, the National Indian Foundation (Funai) is under new management and for the first time in history will be chaired by an indigenous woman, former federal deputy Joenia Wapichana.
In addition, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples was created, headed by Sonia Guajajara, from Maranhão, born in the Arariboia Indigenous Land, the target of violent attacks and murders.
On Twitter, the minister states that she will convene a public hearing in the municipality to demand the investigation and clarification of the motivation for the crimes, in addition to the due punishment of the culprits.
With the changes promoted by the new government, the expectation is that there may be joint work in the state to protect indigenous populations, explains the Secretary of Human Rights of Maranhão, Amanda Costa.
“With regard specifically to the protection of human rights defenders and the territorial protection of territories, joint action with the federal government is essential, and we estimate that, from that moment on, the construction of the ministry of indigenous peoples and the requalification of Funai for the protection of indigenous life, we can move forward in this institutional partnership”.
Editing: Rodrigo Durão Coelho
