June 25, 2022

14:06

Bruno Pacheco – Amazon Agency

MANAUS – An indigenous person died on Friday, 24th, after being shot during an action of shock troops of the Military Police of Mato Grosso do Sul (PM-MS) in the Guarani and Kaiowa community in the rural area of Amambaí (338 kilometers from Campo Grande). The information was confirmed by the Amambaí Regional Hospital and community leaders. At least 11 other people are also injured and receiving medical attention.

According to the hospital, the man arrived at the emergency room lifeless and with three perforations in his body from gunfire. Another indigenous death was reported by the community, but has not yet been confirmed by the authorities. Among the wounded are three police officers and eight Indians, including a 13-year-old girl and a seven-year-old child.

The armed confrontation occurred after a group of 30 indigenous people from the Guarani-Kaiowá community occupied on Thursday, 23rd, part of the Guapoy territory, considered by them to be ancestral, and which is located on a rural property in Amambaí. According to the Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi), an agency linked to the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB), “Guapoy is part of a traditional territory that was stolen from them – when part of the Amambai reserve was taken away”.

The next morning, military police were sent to the region to attend an “occurrence of crime against property and against life” and to assist in keeping the peace. Also on Friday, 24, the State Secretary of Justice and Public Safety, Antonio Carlos Videira, said in a press conference that the conflict is related to problems about indigenous people working in marijuana plantations in Paraguay and who went to the village of Amambaí to try to oust the local leadership.

“The Military Police was called to attend a serious occurrence of crimes against property and against life. This is not about repossession”, Videira said.

“These people who work in the marijuana plantations in Paraguay came to the village trying to take over the leadership. About a month ago, we started training the village’s indigenous people to create a community council for indigenous security, at the request of the village leaders, due to the increase in crimes”, reinforced the secretary.

According to the police, about 100 officers are on site. In addition, a helicopter used in the operation was shot at by armed criminals. Despite the conflict, Secretary Antonio Videira points out that Amambaí is a peaceful place and that it grew after a ‘fierce election’ for the leadership of the region.

Indigenous people killed

The episode that resulted in the confrontation happened in the early morning and afternoon of Friday 24th. Videos and photos of the injured in the conflict were shared on the internet by leaders of the Guarani-Kaiowá community. Indigenous entities reported the case on social networks and called for medical assistance, ambulances, and justice for the indigenous dead and injured.

In a note, Cimi stressed that it fears that the situation will quickly evolve into a new episode of massacre against the Guarani-Kaiowá, like the one that occurred in 2016 in Caarapó (MS), when one indigenous man was shot and 20 others were wounded after a confrontation between ranchers and local leaders.

“Given the information of the wounded, the local population contingent and the history of violence in the region, the Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi) fears that the situation will quickly evolve into a new episode of massacre against the Guarani Kaiowá, like the one that occurred in 2016 in Caarapó (MS)”, Cimi said in a statement.

According to the entity, the Amambai reserve is the second largest in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in terms of population, with almost 10,000 indigenous people. “The indigenous people are clamoring for attention, demanding protection for their lives and their rights”, reinforced the indigenous council.