Justice Minister: Federal Police investigate genocide against Yanomami

Brazil’s Minister of Justice and Public Security Flavio Dino confirmed Wednesday (Jan. 25) the opening of a Federal Police inquiry on the crime of genocide against the Yanomami indigenous people in the northern state of Roraima. During recent years the ethnic group has struggled under a health crisis, with deaths caused by malnutrition and the proliferation of diseases such as malaria.

“We have a law on genocide in Brazil, which is very old, sanctioned by Juscelino Kubitschek in 1956. This law is still in force and covers various types of genocide practices, involving not just killing, but also violating physical and mental integrity, as well as actions and omissions that lead to the extermination of a given ethnic group. Based on what I saw, on what society saw, I have no doubt there was, unfortunately, not only negligence, but also a certain degree of intention, which will be investigated by the Federal Police,” the minister said during an interview on radio broadcast A Voz do Brasil on Rádio Nacional.

According to the minister, the probes will also look into the conduct of the people who committed crimes in the region and also of those responsible for “neglect in the health care and welfare” of the indigenous people.

One of the measures to be adopted is the removal of invaders from the indigenous land, especially illegal miners. No official figures are available, but some 30 thousand non-indigenous people are estimated to be carrying out illegal activities in the area today.

“The removal has been stipulated by President Lula. It will be done. Because indigenous lands are federal property with permanent possession by the indigenous people, and there can be no mining,” the minister said. The removal operation, he added, is complex and requires multi-sectoral planning, including efforts to encourage them to find legal alternatives to re-enter the economy.