Report uncovers killing of indigenous people, violation of rights

Last year, 110 indigenous people were killed in Brazil, according to data from the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health, Sesai, linked to the Health Ministry. The cases were included in a report entitled Violence Against Indigenous Peoples – 2017, launched Thursday (Sep. 27) by the Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi). The states with the highest numbers were Roraima (33), Amazonas (28), and Mato Grosso do Sul (17).

Cimi’s report classifies violations against indigenous people into three groups: violation against property, violence against persons, and violation through omission of government authority.

The document outlines the attacks perpetrated against the indigenous population and shows that a reduction in the number of cases was seen in only two of the 19 types of violence listed. As for killings, an improvement was seen from 2016, when 110 individuals were killed. Another indicator reveals a better child mortality rate. In 2016, 735 indigenous children under five years old were reported dead, compared to 702 last year.

However, anthropologist Lucia Helena Rangel, adviser with Cimi and a co-author of the report, says the lower figures are not necessarily reason for celebration, as “all lives matter.” Lucia Helena also notes that the suicide rates among the indigenous are higher than that of any other portion of the population.

Violation of rights

Roberto Liebgott, Cimi’s regional coordinator, argued that, in addition to not meeting the demands made by the indigenous people, the federal government “merged decisions that made violating the basic rights [of these people] easier.” As an example, he mentioned a new decree that stipulates that the indigenous were only entitled to own the territories already in their control on October 5, 1988, when the current Constitution took effect. Liebgott maintains that such rules hinders the demarcation of land as well as the protection and inspection of already demarcated areas.

“In a more comprehensive view, we realize that, in 2017, the federal government assigned the responsibilities regarding the implementation of indigenous policies. They brought to Funai those linked to major landowners,” stated Liebgott.

Funai, the National Indian Foundation, is the government agency in charge of the interests of indigenous people in Brazil.