Attack Kills Two Guajajara Indians on Highway BR-226 in Maranhão

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Two Guajajara Indians died and two were injured in an attack on Saturday, December 7th, on federal highway BR-226, between the villages of Boa Vista and El Betel, in Maranhão.

The Secretariat of Human Rights and People’s Participation of Maranhão reported, on Twitter, that it is following the case along with the Secretariat of Public Safety and representatives of the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI).

The fatal victims are Firmino Silvino Guajajara and Raimundo Bernice Guajajara. After the killings, Guajajara Indians protested and closed the BR-226 highway.

Sonia Guajajara, an indigenous leader who was a candidate for vice-president on the PSOL board in the last elections, recounted the attack on her Instagram.

“A car passed by and shot two indigenous people who were on their motorcycles on the road. Firmino Prexede Guajajara died instantly, Nelsi Olímpio Guajajara was shot in the leg and is injured”.

The Indians were returning from a meeting to advocate for their rights. Last month, Paulo Paulino Guajajara, who worked as a forest guardian defending the indigenous territory against illegal exploitation, was murdered by loggers near the site of the same location of the new crimes committed against the Guajajara.

Source: Carta Capital

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