The Brazilian government will reinforce the pro-latifundium military presence in Paraná
We reported yesterday on attacks by the latifundium on the indigenous peasantry Ava-Guarani at Western Paraná. A Nova Democracia (AND) has recently reported that the government will send more troops to this area. We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by AND.
The Ministry of Justice of the Luiz Inácio government stated today (4th of January) that it will reinforce the presence of the National Force in Tekoha Yvy Okaju, in western Paraná, after an assault by armed goons working at the service of the latifundium which left several indigenous people injured. Most likely this will not solve the crisis, since the National Force has already acted several times at the service of big landlords and armed goons.
The measure was taken after four indigenous people were shot by goons, including a 7-year-old child, a 14-year-old teenager and two other young people of 25 and 28 years old. The raids took place on December 29, 30 and 31 of 2024.
In the attack on December 29, goons at the service of big landlords even set fire to indigenous plantations and vegetation around the indigenous land. The attacks also destroyed water and food of the indigenous.
Pro-latifundium military
For the indigenous people, the National Force does not represent any hope. Even before the government’s new announcement, the indigenous people were denounced that, despite warnings of an imminent attack during more than a month ago, the military did nothing to prevent the assault.
On the 30th and 31st, the National Force witnessed the attacks, but, according to the indigenous people, there was no effective intervention by the military to end the latifundium offensive.
Other similar cases of the National Force omission occurred recently in more than one location in the country. Last year, Avá-Guarani indigenous people clashed with the National Force during an eviction attempt in service of the big landlords. A military officer’s rifle was confiscated in the clash, but was later returned.
Another emblematic case, also last year, occurred in Mato Grosso do Sul, when the National Force observed, for almost two months, a siege by the goons on the TI Panambi Lagoa Rica, in Douradina, and then abandoned the place so that the goons could make an invasion. The attack by the goons after the troops’ withdrawal left 11 indigenous people injured.
Silent government
Even in the face of increasing attacks and strong evidence of the pro-latifundium actions by the National Force, Luiz Inácio’s government continues to insist on the mobilization of the military as a solution for the conflict.
There is no indication that the government will take more serious measures to protect the rights of the peoples of the countryside, such as the demarcation of claimed indigenous lands and punishment of big landlords involved in massacres and attacks against indigenous peoples, peasants and Quilombolas.
