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[source: NativeNews; Thu, 27 Jan 2000 15:44:29]

Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 21:37:52 +0100
From: "Elsbeth Vocat" <evocat@nextron.ch>
Organization: Pueblo Indio

oneworld press release, January 2000

Gunmen torch village and eight Guarani commit suicide

Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Survival has received reports that shortly after midnight on
14 January, 50 heavily armed gunmen invaded the Guarani-Kaiow?
indigenous area of Potrero Gua?u. Villagers, including children,
were beaten and six Guarani women were reportedly raped in front
of their families. Most houses were burned and 30 villagers were
forced onto a truck and driven out of the area. It is feared
that a number of Guarani who remain unaccounted for have been
'disappeared'. The gunmen were hired by local ranchers who wish
to evict the Guarani from their ancestral land. The ranchers
subsequently closed the roads into the area, preventing FUNAI
from investigating the incident or delivering food and medical
supplies. The Federal Police have now cleared the road and
arrested five of the gunmen.

Suicide is endemic among the Guarani communities which have been
evicted from their ancestral lands. In the last three weeks six
Guarani have committed suicide in Amambai reserve and two in
Dourados reserve. The governor of Mato Grosso do Sul, Guarani
leaders, Brazilian NGOs and academics all link the appalling
suicide rate to the terrible lack and loss of land.

The Guarani were expelled from Potrero Gua?u in the 1970s and
1980s, when the Brazilian government sold the land titles to
colonists and ranchers. Following years of petitioning by the
700-strong Indian community, FUNAI identified the area as
Guarani land, but has not yet demarcated it. The community,
tired of delays, returned to Potrero Gua?u in April 1998. This
is the third recent attempt at illegal eviction carried out by
ranchers. In December another Guarani community was violently
evicted from Sombrerito and their houses and possessions burned
to prevent them from returning.

"As Brazil prepares to celebrate its '500 year anniversary' the
government has blood on its hands. It could and should have acted
to prevent further deaths and violence," says Stephen Corry,
Survival's Director.

For more information please contact Iona Singleton on
+44 (0)20 7242 1441 or by email at is@survival-international.org
 

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