Brazil’s National Force to protect Guarani Kaiowá indigenous villages
Brazil plans to expand the National Force’s presence across the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and increase its personnel to ensure the protection of Guarani Kaiowá indigenous villages. Political violence has been reported in the region since last week’s runoff election, in which Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was reelected. Notícias relacionadas: Brazil’s 2026 elections see record number of indigenous…
Brazil intends to bolster its National Force presence in Mato Grosso do Sul state, aiming to enhance protection for Guarani Kaiowá indigenous communities. Political unrest has surfaced since the recent runoff elections where incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured re-election. The Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) confirms at least five murder cases of indigenous individuals in the area, with investigations currently underway.
CIMI's Mato Grosso do Sul coordinator, Matias Benno Rempel, reports multiple instances of intimidation during the election, including pickup trucks traversing indigenous territories and assaults intended to instill fear and deter voters from participating.
During a visit to Sassoró village, near the Brazilian-Paraguayan border, Justice and Public Security Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva disclosed plans to augment the National Force's numbers. Accompanied by Indigenous Peoples Minister Eloy Terena and Human Rights Minister Janine Mello, the Minister elaborated on the introduction of a "Minute-by-Minute" protocol.
This initiative enables troops to maintain a constant on-site presence, ready to react swiftly to emergencies or suspected criminal activities. The troops will be deployed upon request from federal agencies like the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, or state authorities. The Minister emphasized the protocol's capacity to capture real-time images, categorize incidents, and, whenever feasible, identify suspects and the nature of the crime.
The "Minute-by-Minute" system promises expedited information dissemination, identification of incident types, potential suspects, and crime nature. Following the election, threats against indigenous communities intensified. Brazil's Indigenous Peoples Articulation (APIB) documented over 30 cases of violence against indigenous peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul.
Sassoró village received a threatening message via WhatsApp, warning of water supply contamination, suspected to be orchestrated by a municipal employee. Eloy Terena confirmed that the Federal Police is probing the suspects and plans to intensify water quality monitoring. The minister underscored the necessity to investigate all reported cases, noting that the poisoning incident directly linked to a politically motivated crime.
The Ministry of Human Rights announced that the Protection Program will offer resources to victims of such crimes. As of now, more than 80 indigenous individuals from Mato Grosso do Sul have enrolled in the program.
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