José Cruz/ABr

 

Kaiowa-Guarani leader Anastacio Peralta

The Indians of the ethnic group Guarani-Kaiowa, who live in the southernmost of Mato Grosso do Sul state, have been persecuted by farmers and squatters in the region and still face the omission of the state police and local authorities.

The complaint was made on Thursday (19th) by indigenous leaders in a meeting with members of the Commission on Human Rights and Minorities.

The Indians came to ask for the support of the deputies to investigate the disappearance of two teachers from the same ethnic group in October 30th. Olindo and Genivaldo Verá haven´t been seen since that a group of gunmen invaded the Village Pirajuí, where they lived, in the county of Paranhos, located on the border with Paraguay.

Gunmen and politicians
According to Anastacio Peralta, who is from the same community of the missing teachers, most of the indian leaders and officials of the National Foundation for the Indians (Funai) in the region have already been threatened. "In fact, out there in our region, the partners of the Guarani-Kayowá indians are pursued by gunmen and also by local politicians”.

Also according to Anastacio Peralta, the situation is aggravated by the partiality of the Mato Grosso do Sul police: "The police has a hard time in understanding the indigenous law. The police is controlled by the policy of the landlords and of the large farmers. There is no justice in our region. Justice is one-sided and oppresses the indigenous people, instead of defending our rights."

The complaints were confirmed by Deputy Iriny Lopes (PT-ES), who was in Mato Grosso do Sul. She said that the problems between farmers and indigenous people are usual in the state. "The fact is that the natives always go to jail, while the white people almost never go."

Demarcation of land
For the legal advisor to the Indigenous Missionary Council, Paulo Guimaraes, the situation will only be resolved when the lands of the Guarani-Kaiowa in the state will finally be demarcated. The problem is that officials responsible for the demarcation can not finish this job.

"Many working groups have already got the information needed to complete the job. But it is necessary to complement this information, getting into some properties, and it is exactly in these properties that farmers and the Federation of Agriculture have closed themselves in, saying: ‘Do not enter here’, and if the working group is not allowed to get in, they can’t complete the work", said Guimaraes.

The vice-President of the Committee on Human Rights, Deputy Peter Wilson (PT-GO) reminds that the Guarani-Kaiowa is now the ethnic group that suffers the most in the country, and the State has an obligation to provide protection, investigate crimes and, finally, demarcate the land.

According to the Constitution of 1988, we should have already demarcated these lands long ago; they are causing murders," said the deputy. "There is the question of malnourished children, the question of suicide, the question of alcohol abuse so, there is a dramatic reality and we requested a hearing with the Minister of Justice to ask for a better performance of the Federal Police, Incra and Funai concerning demarcation and security. "

Report - Juliano Pires
Edition - Newton Araújo
Translation: Danielle Currlin