Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHTS OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
CASE EXAMINED: BRAZIL SITUATION OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL
2010/201123
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In a letter dated 15 March 2010, the Special Rapporteur on the
human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people,
James Anaya, called the attention of the Government of Brazil to
information received in relation to the alleged deteriorating human
rights situation of indigenous peoples in the state of Mato Grosso
do Sul. This communication followed the report of the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of indigenous peoples in Brazil (A/
HRC/12/24/Add.2), made public in 2009, which made reference to
the situation in Mato Grosso do Sul. As of the completion of this
report, there is no record of a response from the Government of
Brazil.
ALLEGATIONS RECEIVED BY THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
AND TRANSMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT ON 15 MARCH
2010
In his communication of 15 March 2010, the Special Rapporteur
transmitted to the Government information received by him about
the situation of indigenous peoples in the state of Mato Grosso
do Sul, and he requested that the Government respond to the
allegations contained in the communication in light of relevant
+ INDIGENIST MISSIONARY COUNCIL - CIMI
international standards.
According to the information and allegations received:
a) The community of Laranjeira Ñanderu, Rio Brilhante, is one
the many Guarani communities that is waiting for its land to be
demarcated under a demarcation agreement between the National
Indian Foundation (FUNAI) and the Attorney General's office
(Ministério Público Federal).
b) During 9-11 September 2009, the community of Laranjeira
Ñanderu was evicted from its lands following the grant of an eviction
permit issued to the rancher Mario Cerveira by the Regional
Federal Tribunal. Subsequently, unidentified persons set fire to the
village, destroying the community members' houses, property, and
animals. The community is currently living in precarious conditions
under tarpaulins on the side of a main highway. Community
members currently have no proper access to water or food, and
have reportedly been threatened by security guards employed by
Mr. Cerveira.
c) Further, in the early hours of 18 September 2009, another
Guarani Kaiowá community, the Apyka'y, was attacked by ten
security guards of the private security firm Gaspem Segurança, who
fired shots into their camp, wounding one community member. The
gunmen also attacked and injured other indigenous community
members with knives and then set fire to their shelters, which were
destroyed along with their possessions.
d) The gunmen from the private security firm, Gaspem Segurança,
23 Cases Examined by the Special Rapporteur 2009-2010. http://unsr.jamesanaya.org/cases-2010/07-brazil-situation-of-indigenous-peoples-in-the-state-of-mato-grosso-do-sul. Full
report: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/Regular Session/Session21/A-HRC-21-47-Add3_ES.pdfView entire presentation