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UA 284/96 Fear for safety 4 December 1996
BRAZIL Katithaurlu Indians
Ariovaldo Jose dos Santos, FUNAI field worker
Sebastiao Moreira, CIMI Coordinator, Mato Grosso
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of a group of 76
Katithaurlu Indians, a sub-group of the Nambikwara Indians, after an
attack on their village in Mato Grosso state by a group of loggers on 16
November 1996. Although the Indians were able to recognise and name some
of the men involved in the attack, the loggers are still at liberty in
the area, and Amnesty International has received reports that the
community has been threatened with further violence.
Two men who have been monitoring the situation in the Sarare indigenous
lands (home to the Nambikwara Indians), and calling for the withdrawal of
land invaders from the area (see below), are also feared to be at risk.
Ariovaldo Jose dos Santos, field worker and district supervisor for the
Brazilian government's indigenous agency, FUNAI, has received death
threats. In an anonymous telephone call on 30 November he was told that
he would be killed on the morning of 8 December. He has asked for police
protection, but has not so far received any. Sebastiao Moreira, of the
Catholic Church's indigenous rights body, CIMI, also received
intimidating telephone calls on the same afternoon.
A team of doctors and field workers who were able to reach the
Katithaurlu village on 19 November found evidence that Indians had been
tied up and beaten. Two adults had wounds to the head, and one of their
leaders, Americo, had suffered a serious wound to his mouth and lower
jaw. The doctors reported on 14 cases where there were clear signs of
injury. After assaulting the Indians, the loggers looted the village,
stealing money, guns and vehicles, and damaging huts, a school and a
medical post.
The federal authorities in Brazil are legally responsible for protecting
Indians. Despite the very serious incident on 16 November, and repeated
promises of protection, as far as Amnesty International is aware, no
concrete measures have yet been taken.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Sarare and Vale do Guapore indigenous reserves, which are home to the
Nambikwara Indians, have been invaded by about 8,000 miners and loggers.
Indigenous communities and support groups have been calling for their
withdrawal since the early 1980s. Indigenous communities in Brazil are
vulnerable to human rights abuses carried out by miners, loggers and
other interest groups coveting indigenous lands and the resources on
them, who frequently act with official acquiescence or collusion.
Impunity for human rights abuses against indigenous people is almost
universal.
Under Brazil's 1988 Constitution all other titles to indigenous land are
considered null and void. Nevertheless, in January 1996 the Brazilian
Federal Government issued Decree 1775/96 providing procedures for
administrative challenges by non-indigenous claimants to indigenous
areas.
Amnesty International takes no position on land disputes, but has
expressed concern that the uncertainty created by the Decree might pave
the way to violent incursions on indigenous lands, which in the past has
led to assaults, selective killings and massacres of indigenous
communities. Amnesty International has called upon the government of
Brazil to take concrete steps to protect the physical integrity of
indigenous communities, especially in the light of the Decree. However,
large scale invasions such as of the Yanomami Reserve in Roraima have
been allowed to become established before government action has been
taken.