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| Guarani man with sugar cane and tools
© João Ripper/Survival |
The Guarani-Kaiowá Indians of Cerro Marangatu in Brazil have won back their
land after 50 years. Last week, Brazil's Minister of Justice signed a bill for
the demarcation of 9,300 hectares of land, covering the Cerro Marangatu area,
stolen from the Guarani-Kaiowá by ranchers in the 1950s.
For decades, the 400 Guarani-Kaiowá of Cerro Marangatu were crammed onto just
nine hectares of land, in terrible conditions. Lack of land led to food
shortages and social breakdown; young children died of malnutrition and some
committed suicide in despair. Once demarcation, the Brazilian process of
recognising indigenous areas, is complete, the Guarani-Kaiowá of Cerro Marangatu
will at last be able to rebuild their community.
For other Guarani-Kaiowá communities, the struggle for land rights continues.
Guarani-Kaiowá from Takuára are camped by the side of a road, having been
evicted from their land by armed police and soldiers. When living in Takuára,
leader Marcos Veron said, 'This here is my life. My soul. If you take me away
from this land, you take my life.' His son now reports that Marcos Veron has
talked of committing suicide.
The Guarani have one of the highest suicide
rates in the world. Over 330 of a population of 30,000 have killed
themselves in last 17 years.
Survival has campaigned with the Guarani-Kaiowá for many years. Director
Stephen Corry said today, 'The Brazilian government's recognition of Cerro
Marangatu is a great victory for the Guarani-Kaiowá. It will give hope to those
communities whose rights to live on their land in peace are still being
denied.'
Photos available to the press: for more information contact Miriam Ross (+44)
(0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
Visit Related Material for a closer look at the Guarani Suicide epidemic.
