UN investigates massacre of activists and indigenous people in Brazil

The situation of indigenous lands in Brazil is returning to the UN agenda, which this Tuesday celebrates the international day of indigenous peoples and warns of attacks on communities in different parts of the world.

This Monday, UN rapporteur Mary Lawlor, monitoring the situation of human rights defenders, met virtually with the leaders of the Guaraní-Kaiowá peoples and victims of the attacks in the Mato Grosso do Sul region.

The plight of the indigenous people in Brazil has prompted other UN rapporteurs to demand clarification from the government of Jair Bolsonaro for the violence. This time, the meeting takes place at a meeting held at the UN headquarters in Geneva at the end of August, as civil society organizations prepare to question the human rights situation in Brazil. The native theme should once again be among the main focuses of attention.

However, Lawlor focused on his encounter with the special situation in the border region with Paraguay and the special situation in reservations and buybacks in areas such as Dourados and Amambai (MS).

One of the reports he collected was that of a 14-year-old boy shot in a police operation in a retake zone near Amambai. Given the situation he was in, he survived even though society left him to die.

Another report was given by a local student who had been hit in the head by a bullet in the same operation.

Leaders from other indigenous regions also briefed the UN representative on the constant threats from the gunmen. This occurs, first of all, in places of reclamation, in areas that the natives have shown to be their territory and that have never been demarcated.

According to attendees, Lawlor was particularly concerned about the plight of indigenous women and requested more information about the actions of gunmen and armed security guards.

The hope of communities in the region is that the rapporteur can pressure the government to take action to ensure the protection of indigenous peoples. Whenever questioned at the UN, the Brazilian government assures Funai is performing its functions and caring for communities is part of the priorities of the Jair Bolsonaro administration.