The Association of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) on Monday asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into President Jair Bolsonaro for
“anti-indigenous policy”,
“genocide”
and
“ecocide”.
The indigenous tribes of Brazil have already taken the ICC against Bolsonaro, but this is the first time that they have done so with indigenous lawyers, explained in a statement the Apib, which brings together various regional organizations of struggle for the defense of the indigenous rights.
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"We believe that in Brazil actions are currently taking place which constitute crimes against humanity, (crimes of) genocide and ecocide"
, writes Apib.
"In view of the inability of the current system of justice in Brazil to investigate, imprison and judge (those responsible for) these acts, we denounce these actions before the international community and seize the ICC"
, said Eloy Terena, legal coordinator of Apib.
The Apib is based on reports from indigenous leaders and organizations, official documents, academic research and technical reports which, according to it,
“prove that a clearly anti-indigenous and systematic policy (...) was planned. and implemented under Bolsonaro's leadership ”
since the far-right leader came to power in January 2019, and particularly during the coronavirus pandemic, a little over a year later. Jair Bolsonaro advocated the opening of indigenous lands and protected areas of the Amazon - already seriously affected by deforestation and illegal mining prospecting - to the exploitation of natural resources, attracting an avalanche of criticism in Brazil but also in the 'foreigner.
The incursions of artisanal miners and loggers are one of the first factors in the contamination of indigenous communities by the coronavirus, which has left 1,166 dead and more than 57,000 infections among the nearly 900,000 natives, according to the Apib. In recent months, thanks to the weight of the agribusiness lobby in Parliament, various bills have been introduced which are considered very threatening by the natives. These represent 0.5% of the 212 million Brazilians and their land covers 13% of the territory of the immense country. One of these bills, already approved by the Chamber of Deputies and which must be submitted to the Senate, modifies the existing rules of demarcation of indigenous lands. Last January, the cacique Raoni Matuktire, emblematic defender of the Amazon rainforest, had already asked the ICC toinvestigate for
"Crimes against humanity"
against Jair Bolsonaro, accused of
"persecuting"
indigenous peoples by destroying their habitat and violating their fundamental rights.