Brazil: Guarani community gains a small victory at the end of a year full of violations

As the year comes to a close, we get the impression that small steps forward can take on greater importance, especially when these advances occur in struggles that have gone on for countless years. Thus, FIAN Brazil would like to share an important, if small, victory.

Following the immense suffering of the Guarani-Kaiowá people and the strong pressure enacted by the Guarani communities´ valiant and peaceful movement – supported by FIAN and other organizations, for several years – a decree was published summarizing the identification and demarcation report regarding the Panambi Indigenous Lands, in Mato Grosso do Sul. This would be a reason to celebrate, if this publication had not been released after a two and a half year delay. Certainly, this news has renewed the people´s hope, and is perceived as a gift at the year´s end. Yet a long road lies ahead, and we hope that from now on the pace will move more quickly.

Aiming to compensate the violations committed against the Guaranis´ rights, FUNAI, the national Indian Foundation, and the Federal Public Prosecutor (MPF for its initials in Portuguese) agreed on the Terms of Adjustment of Conduct (TAC) in 2007. This document identified and demarcated the Guarani-Kaiowá´s land in Mato Grosso do Sul (Administrative Procedure MPF / RPM/DRS/MS1.21.001000065/2007-44). In order to fulfill the TAC proposed by the Federal Public Prosecutor, FUNAI established six working groups whose objective was to identify the Guarani traditional lands. The six reports were due to be published by 30 June 2009, and FUNAI´s contribution necessary for the signing of the decree that would recognize the lands as Guarani territory was due 19 April 2010.

Currently, five reports have still yet to be finished for the regularization process regarding the Guarani territory to progress. The regularization process would eventually guarantee this community´s human right to adequate food. The publication of the aforementioned decree represents a small step forward; nevertheless, this document only partially covers the dimensions and limits of the Panambi traditional lands. FUNAI and the federal government must adopt the measures necessary to fulfill the TAC, especially those measures that would address the issue of those deeds granted by previous administrations to the small-scale landowners of the National Agricultural Settlement in Dourados. This action is fundamental for the Guaranis: to gain access to the land they have tirelessly sought , to live in accordance with their culture and tradition and to guarantee their right to food.

Read FIAN Brazil’s press release (in Portugese)