Indigenous Land in Brazil Attacked with Bombs and the Indigenous People Counterattacks
The 15th of April the indigenous Land (IL) Bananal, located in the north-east of Distrito Federal and only 5 km away from the Terra Livre Camp, got under attack of the Military Police, who arrived on horseback and with machinery to destroy houses. An indigenous peasant gave alert about the police encirclement in an audio sent to A Nova Democracia. The village Teko Haw, in dispute with the Development Agency of Distrito Federal (Terracap), has favorable court decisions for the indigenous people, but this did not stop the invasion. During the attack an indigenous stated to have a legal order that prohibits the invasion, but the policemen ignored the document and began firing teargas.
The indigenous people, who do not simply abandon their land, defended themselves with working tools. The Leader Francisco Guajajara denounced that the invasion took place after an important meeting about land and to criticise of the inactivity of the government. Another indigenous, Txanu spoke about a previous murder intent, in which a bomb was thrown into his place, and the lack of answer by the Federal Police, who dismissed his denounce.
The situation reflects a growing conflict between the indigenous communities and the authorities, that usually acts in favor of the private interests. Despite the legal decisions and the attempts of the indigenous people to defend their right, the violence and the repression continues, proving the lack of protection and respect towards their territories and culture.
A correspondent of AND in the federal district spoke with the lawyer Eduardo Queiroz of the Public Defense Council of the Union (DPU), who informed that the DPU solicited the prohibition of construction works in the village, but the legal power rejected it in favor of the Development Agency of Distrito Federal (Terracap). On the 8th of April the Regional Federal Tribunal of the 1st Region revoke a decision that prevented the removal of the families in square 308, in which the IL is located. This measure was against a motion of the National Foundation of Indigenous People (Funai), that tried to protect the indigenous communities.
Queiroz outlined, that the DPU tries to create a room of negotiations to avoid conflicts and risks for the Guajajara community, that was awaiting for a resolution during years. Nevertheless, the State seems to have unlikely the disposition to avoid the escalation of the situation, having the Terracap already invaded the IL Bananal with machinery and military escort, destroying a part of the village’s vegetation.
The process on square 308 is very extensive and has evidence in favor of the indigenous people, including an anthropologic sight of 2011 that recognizes their rights on the land. Despite the agreements, the repression continues on the indigenous land.
