Clashes Escalate Between Indigenous Peoples And Farmers In Brazil

An injured Indigenous man lies on the ground while attended by health workers after attacks on the Guarani Kaiowa ethnicity on Panambi Lagoa Rica Indigenous land in Douradina, Mato Grosso do Sul state

The Ministry of Justice announced on Monday that additional federal law enforcement officers are being sent to Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state following clashes over land between Indigenous peoples and farmers over the weekend. The National Public Security Force had already increased its presence in the region since the beginning of July and will now deploy more agents as reinforcements.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples reported that farmers attacked Guarani Kaiowa people in the Douradina municipality on Saturday, resulting in at least eight injuries. Five of the injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital, where it was discovered that three had been shot by firearms and two wounded by rubber bullets.

Another attack on the Guarani Kaiowa took place on Sunday evening, during which a fire was set, tear gas was used, and gunshots were heard. The perpetrator could not be identified, and at least one farmer was injured in this incident.

Farmers attacked Guarani Kaiowa people in Douradina municipality, resulting in injuries.

National Public Security Force increased presence in the region since July.

Clashes over land in Panambi-Lagoa Rica Indigenous territory led to violence.

Guarani Kaiowa set up camp to reclaim land, facing harassment from local landowners.

The clashes stem from the Guarani Kaiowa Indigenous people's efforts to reclaim land in the Panambi-Lagoa Rica Indigenous territory, an area that was recognized as theirs in 2011 before a court suspended the process. Frustrated with the slow progress, the Guarani Kaiowa set up a camp to reclaim the land on July 14, prompting local landowners to construct their own camp nearby and harass the Indigenous group.

Legal disputes over land rights have intensified tensions, with the 'time frame' argument playing a significant role. This legal theory posits that Indigenous peoples must have been physically occupying land or legally fighting to reoccupy territory by the date Brazil's constitution was promulgated on Oct. 5, 1988. While Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected this theory last September, the Senate subsequently approved a bill supporting it, leading to further conflicts.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration has pledged to resume granting lands to Indigenous peoples, in contrast to his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who opposed setting aside more land for Indigenous communities. However, Indigenous groups have criticized unfulfilled promises to create reserves and remove illegal miners and land-grabbers from their territories.