PN #69 - Repudiation of attacks against an indigenous community in MS

The Arns Commission repudiates the escalation of violence against the Guarani and Kaiowá peoples in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), which has culminated today (September 18) with yet another murder of an indigenous person, this time the young Neri Guarani Kaiowá, 22, shot by a Military Police sniper who had been surrounding the Nhanderu Marangatu indigenous land in the municipality of Antônio João (MS) for days.

Last week, this Commission, together with the president of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), Dom Leonardo Steiner, Cardinal Archbishop of Manaus (AM), some civil society organizations, congressmen and authorities, went on a visit to areas of conflict in the region of Douradina (MS), and was surprised by an attack that occurred the day before in Nhanderu Marangatu, which left three indigenous people wounded by police officers—a woman shot in the knee, her sister, and a young man, both hit with rubber bullets.

Let it be clear that the visit by the Collective for Support and Solidarity with the Guarani Peoples was aimed at learning about the reality of the various villages and listening to the victims of attacks that have worsened in recent times. However, backed by a sudden decision by a lower court judge, the state military police forces were given permission to “protect the property” of those farmers who refuse to recognize the Guarani and Kaiowá's right to the land.

The reports gathered by both the Collective and this Commission are shocking. Videos with criminal threats are circulating to double down on the bet that the indigenous people will be expelled or eliminated in the coming days. In the villages, access to food, health care, and education for children has been increasingly restricted. Police raids on the settlements have resulted in episodes of violence, ranging from physical confrontations to the vandalization of the few belongings these communities possess. Even FUNAI agents have been harassed in the region. In short, the situation is unsustainable.

On the day of Neri's murder, the Arns Commission once again demands a firm response from the authorities. We call on the governor of Mato Grosso do Sul to use his authority to curb the climate of confrontation and extermination in the state. We also call on federal agencies not to adopt an apathetic or passive stance in the face of these events. The Secretary of Justice is expected to respond promptly, strengthening the presence of the National Force in the region to protect these peoples and territories. The Secretary of Indigenous Peoples and the Ministry of Agrarian Development are expected to investigate and monitor events, as well as coordinate measures to support the communities. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Supreme Court are expected to use their legal instruments to stop the escalation of violence against the Guarani and Kaiowá peoples. This escalation is calculated, deliberate, and announced, and it must come to an end. Enough is enough!