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| Guarani man
© João Ripper/Survival |
The shooting of Guarani Kaiowá leader Dorvalino Rocha by hired gunmen
on Christmas Eve brought the number of Brazilian Indians murdered in
2005 to thirty-eight – the highest figure in eleven years.
An employee of a private security firm has confessed to Dorvalino
Rocha's murder. Rocha and his community were evicted by police from
their land, Ñanderú Marangatú, on 15 December. The land was officially
recognised as belonging to the Guarani-Kaiowa in March 2005, but
ranchers are contesting the recognition in Brazil's supreme court. The
Indians are now living by the roadside.
The Brazilian support organisation CIMI believes the rocketing murder
figures are due to the Brazilian government's failure to recognise
Indian land. Only five Indian territories were officially recognised in
2005 – a rate at which it would take at least 45 more years for
Brazilian Indians to see their land recognised.
Leia Aquino, a Guarani Kaiowá woman from Ñanderú Marangatú, said today,
We are very worried. We are very scared and don't have the courage to
go out, not even to buy the things we need most…. Last year was
terrible for us. We lost many people, and not only in Ñanderú
Marangatú.'
Survival's director Stephen Corry says, Dorvalino Rocha's death was a
tragedy that need not have happened. The Brazilian government must
reverse the shameful murder rate and give the Guarani Kaiowá, and all
Brazilian Indians, back their land.'
Photos and footage available. For more information call Miriam Ross on
(+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org
