Brazilians indigenous people were murdered during the presidency of Jai Bolsonaro. The report Violence against Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, published by the Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi) said that during Mr. Bolsonaro’s time in office.
There are reports of 795 cases of homicides against indigenous people throughout the country. The states hardest hit by the killings were Roraima and Amazonas, home to the Yanomami community, where 208 and 168 people were murdered respectively.
Who are the Indigenous of Brazil?
Indigenous people in Brazil, or Native Brazilians, comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who have inhabited what is now the country of Brazil since prior to the European invasion around 1500. Unlike Cristoforo Colombo, who thought he had reached the East Indies, the Portuguese, most notably Vasco da Gama, had already reached India via the Indian Ocean route when they reached Brazil. Nevertheless, the word Indios (“Indians”) was by then established to designate the people of the New World and continues to be used today in the Portuguese language to designate these people, while the people of India are called indianos in order to distinguish the two.
What does the report say?
The report claims that the highest rates of suicide were found in three states from 2019 and 2022. In Mato Grosso do Sul 146 killings were reported. Nearly three-quarters of the total of the 535 indigenous people who took their own lives were from Roraima, Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul.
What is the cause of killing of Indigenous people?
As the report states there is an increase in conflicts over territorial rights. In 2022, 158 violent acts were reported, together with 309 cases of illegal exploitation of natural resources, invasions and damage to indigenous property in 218 indigenous territories of 25 states of Brazil.
The tragedy faced by the indigenous communities in Brazil are under during the four years tenure of Mr. Bolsonaro’s rule. It has portrayed the loss of demarcations of indigenous lands, an increase in conflicts. The dismantling of policies aimed at safeguarding indigenous peoples and their territories.
The indigenous communities being the marginalized and weaker section of the society have been targeted. This claims that the right wing government did nothing to stop the violence, and exploitation against them.
Indigenous people have always been targeted in different parts of the world- having being marginalized, alienated from the “urban” civilization. As Spivak says, “Can the Sub-altern speak?” here the sub-alterns are not able to speak for themselves, but the leftist govt. have recognized them. Also, they need to work in their favour.
