Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul
INDIGENIST MISSIONARY COUNCIL - CIMI
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learning and our traditions. If we were, we would have killed many
farmers, but that never happened. We never resource to violence,
and yet we are suffering violence, assaults and murders. We want
no blood shedding.
Specifically for my settlement, today we are seventy families
camped in a 500 hectares area, without any services or decent
infrastructure. We rely on receiving basic food basket aids from the
government, but they not always come, and we have no education
or health care. So, the situation gets very difficult for the families,
and especially for the children. In 2010 alone, four children died
from malnutrition, for example.
Although violence against the Guarani-Kaiowá are still the
focal point of the situation in the region, are there any factors
that can be considered as achievements of your leaders and of
the Aty Guasu movement as a whole?
We managed to get the indigenous peoples to organize in their
core. The leadership multiplied. Also, other groups have joined in.
Now, the Aty Guasu movement has ramifications for the youths,
women, prayers and teachers. At least twice a year, the movement
brings together all participants to discuss not only the repossession
of our land, but also health care, education and politics. Therefore,
in general, the movement has been gaining strength through the
struggle. They all say: "No more blood shedding". Things just can't
go on like that.
Another important achievement was our mobilization for the
murderers of Chieftain Nísio Gomes to go to jail. Nísio was not
only my friend but also one of the main leaders of the Guarani-
Kaiowá. He was killed in an attack in November 2011, after leading
the occupation of the Guayviry campground, near the border with
Paraguay. He would always say that "the land belongs to us, to our
grandparents, to our parents". He always said he would come back.
He came back and died.
After his death, we went public about the attack, to show the
country what the Guarani- Kaiowá are going through. We quickly
went to the crime scene, took pictures and showed the blood that
was shed. We sent that to the media. Then the leaders and others
organized demonstrations against the attack. We closed down
roads and walked to show the authorities that the Guarani-Kaiowá
are not alone, that all settlements are interconnected, and that we
are strong.
Articulations and mobilizations continued throughout 2012
and we got the Federal Police to investigate, and then arrest the
murderers of Nísio, although his body was never found. At least now
we showed that justice will come through. Before that farmers had
no reservations, as they knew they wouldn't face any punishment.
They would let everyone know that they would shed more blood.
Maybe now they'll see that they will face consequences.
How do you assess the media work in relation to indigenous
issues?
There are two sides. The media has an important role as it
can show the world our reality, what we are going through, what
the community and the children are suffering, how we are being
attacked, and the reason why this is happening. Especially because
many people just don't know the situation of indigenous peoples in
the country, not only the Guarani-Kaiowa's. They don't understand
our cultural differences; they don't see us as human beings.
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