News-Letter Nr. 455

Federal Police Identify Suspects of Murder of Kaiová in Ambush

The president of the Rural Union of Amambai, Gumercindo Bonamingo, and the vice-mayor of the same city in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Wilson Nunes (Brazilian Progressive Party), have been identified by the Federal Police as the main suspects of being the men behind the murder of Kaiová Avapcarendy (Samuel Martins) in an ambush when members of the Kaiová indigenous community were trying to reoccupy the Ka’ajari traditional indigenous territory on March 26. On that day, about 150 indigenous people, including children, were shot at as they were getting ready to reoccupy the Ka’ajari area, which has been invaded by farmers. Two indigenous women are missing since the day of the crime.

According to the newspaper Folha do Povo, Adelar Anderle, the Federal Police officer in charge of the investigation, says that the material evidence found so far (weapons, explosives, and a van found in the house of the president of the union) suggests that Bonamingo and Nunes are involved in the crime. The police already know that the shot that hit Avapcarendy in the heart came from a 22-mm rifle. A 22-mm rifle was found in the home of the rancher, in addition to a 12-mm shotgun and a box full of home-made bombs. The testimony of witnesses suggests that Wilson Nunes is involved in the crime also. The Federal Police summoned them for a deposition.

The two suspects may be formally accused of murder (hideous crime) in the inquest into the ambush. The Federal Police believe that Avapcarendy wasn’t murdered in a confrontation, but rather as a result of an attack planned by local farmers. In Cimi’s opinion, the arsenal found by the Federal Police may be evidence of conspiracy, formation of private militia, and purchase of weapons for the purpose of repressing land reoccupation actions. The farmers knew that the Kaiová intended to return to their traditional land. It was their third attempt to reoccupy their traditional territory. In December 1999 and January 2000, they were persuaded by the municipal administration and Funai to go back to the Limão Verde reservation, to which they have been confined.

Senate Sets up Inquiry Commission Against Demarcation of Indigenous Areas to Hush up Scandal

A maneuver of government-supporting congresspersons aimed at preventing the establishment of a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) to investigate corruption in Brazil paved the way for the Federal Senate to set up three new inquiry commissions late in March: one to investigate biopiracy, another one to investigate the penitentiary system, and another one to review the demarcation of indigenous areas. The justification presented by senator Mozarildo Cavalcante (Liberal Front Party – state of Roraima) for the latter is the size of the Yanomami indigenous areas in the states of Amazonas and Roraima and of the Raposa/Serra do Sol area in Roraima. The establishment of this inquiry commission pleased the military. On March 21, the minister of Defense, Geraldo Quintão, suggested that the bounds of the Yanomami area should be reviewed and that it should be reduced. Senator Mozarildo Cavalcante is the president and author of an inquiry commission that was set up to investigate NGOs operating in Brazil, particularly in connection with indigenous and environmental issues.

The strategy to create the three inquiry commissions was developed with the participation of president Fernando Henrique Cardoso himself, who personally took the initiative to fight against the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission proposed to investigate corruption. Congresspersons of opposition parties have been trying for one month to gather signatures to investigate accusations against people and agencies of the federal administration.

Indigenous entities in Brazil and abroad sent notes protesting against the proposal to set up an inquiry committee to review the bounds of indigenous areas. Cimi issued a note on this matter, according to which president Fernando Henrique Cardoso is using indigenous people as hostages and currency in exchange for support in political maneuvers. "The president and sociologist is using indigenous lands and the lives of indigenous people to blackmail, threaten and obstruct the opposition and to please, give gifts to and ensure the support of his allies, who are as anti-indigenous as he is," the note says.

Brasília, 4 April
Indianist Missionary Council - Cimi




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