5 years after the killing of Paulo Paulino Guajajara, an Indigenous Amazon Guardian who was gunned down by unlawful loggers, his household nonetheless waits for justice.
Paulo’s demise was extensively coated by the world’s press, however regardless of the worldwide outcry, the killers have by no means been delivered to trial. Two males, Antônio Wesly Nascimento Coelho and Raimundo Nonato Ferreira de Sousa, have been charged, however not tried.
Paulo Paulino, recognized additionally as Kwahu Tenetehar, was shot within the neck and died within the forest after an ambush by loggers. His colleague, Tainaky Tenetehar, was shot within the again and arm however escaped.
The Amazon Guardians have patrolled their territory within the japanese Amazon, which has been closely invaded by loggers, for greater than 15 years. Uncontacted members of the Awá folks additionally dwell within the territory.
Not less than six Guardians have been killed, and lots of of their family members shot lifeless, as loggers and land grabbers goal their territory, often called Arariboia – one of many final areas of forest left in that area, within the japanese state of Maranhão.
Survival has supported the Guardians for a few years. Survival’s Brazil researcher Sarah Shenker, who accompanied the Guardians on one in all their operations, stated 5 years in the past: “Kwahu was utterly devoted to defending his forest and his uncontacted family members, regardless of the dangers. He was additionally one of the humble folks I’ve ever met.
“He knew that he would possibly pay along with his life, however he noticed no different, because the authorities did nothing to guard the forest and uphold the rule of legislation.”
His pals and colleagues paid tribute to him in an emotional video.
After years of stress from the Guardians, and from contacted Awá folks, Brazilian authorities have lastly begun building of a guard submit within the Arariboia territory, to assist them monitor, and forestall incursions by, unlawful loggers.
In a press release to mark the anniversary of Paulo’s homicide, the Guardians stated: “We really feel the misery of the Guajajara folks over the continued impunity of our folks’s murderers, and particularly of the warrior Paulo Paulino, who we’ll all the time keep in mind, above all for his wrestle to guard our ancestral territory.
“The Guardians are getting ready an act of remembrance to mark 5 years of impunity, and we be part of Survival for this second of denunciation, and to demand that these answerable for the homicide of Paulo Paulino are duly tried and sentenced.”
Fiona Watson, Survival Worldwide’s Director of Analysis and Advocacy, stated in the present day: “5 years in the past Paulo Paulino paid along with his life to guard his beloved rainforest residence, and the Indigenous individuals who dwell in it.
“He was one in all numerous Indigenous folks in Brazil killed yearly for defending their land – and the killers persist as a result of they realize it’s unlikely they’ll ever face justice. Brazil’s authorities pays lip service to the necessity to shield what’s left of the Amazon – however the folks defending it on the bottom are sacrificing their lives because the rainforest is destroyed round them. How for much longer will this appalling injustice proceed?”
