The Arns Commission and Conectas Human Rights issued a note of repudiation of the conflict that occurred between indigenous people who occupied Fazenda Inhuma, in the municipality of Potiraguá, and farmers who claim ownership of the area, in the Caramuru-Catarina Paraguassu Indigenous Land, in southern Bahia , this Sunday (21).
In the statement, the organizations state that indigenous people of the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe ethnic group were violently attacked by farmers and gunmen in the region and ask the governor of the state of Bahia, Jerônimo Rodrigues, to fully investigate the case.
According to the note, there are reports of other indigenous people being attacked and missing. The attack resulted in the death of indigenous leader Maria de Fátima Muniz, better known as Nega Pataxó, sister of chief Nailton Pataxó, who was also seriously injured.
The commissions stated that the attack was combined over the internet into a group called “Invasion Zero” whose purpose is to expel, through the use of force, the indigenous people who were there. According to the entities, the actions of the military police officers who were present were unable to contain the conflict.
“There will be no peace in the countryside without Justice. We await a rigorous investigation, demanding the necessary clarifications from Brazilian society. And, to the Pataxó Hã-HãHãe people, we offer our solidarity, at this painful time”, concludes the document.
Authorities mobilize
The governor called an extraordinary meeting to integrate the work of the secretariats in investigating this conflict. Jerônimo also used his social networks to express solidarity with the families.
“We will not accept any type of violence like that which recently occurred in southern Bahia. We are already mobilized to investigate and punish those responsible”, stated the governor.
A delegation from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), led by minister Sonia Guajajara, embarked for the region this Monday (22).
The case
An indigenous woman from the Pataxó Hã Hã Hãe people, identified as Maria de Fátima Muniz, known as Nega Pataxó, aged 52, was murdered and four others were injured by gunshots in the Caramuru-Catarina Paraguassu Indigenous Land, in southern Bahia, this Sunday (21).
Around 200 ruralists from the region mobilized through a WhatsApp call, which called on farmers and traders to recover ownership of Fazenda Inhuma by their own means. They would have surrounded the area with dozens of pickup trucks. The group calls itself the Zero Invasion Movement.
Two farmers were arrested red-handed. They were charged with murder and attempted murder. Four firearms were seized from them.
The gunman who killed Nega Pataxó and another farmer were arrested, as well as an indigenous man who was carrying a homemade weapon. According to the PM, a farmer was injured with an arrow in the arm, but is stable.
*Under the supervision of Bruno Laforé
Source: CNN Brasil
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