Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office Accuses Mato Grosso Police of Killing Indians

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office has accused the Mato Grosso State Police of killing four Shiquitanos indigenous of Bolivian nationality who were hunting in the border region.

The deaths occurred on August 11th and were recorded by GEFRON (Special Border Group, linked to the State Police) as a clash with traffickers.

The denunciation was made by residents of the Bolivian community of San José de La Frontera, across the border from Brazilian municipality of Cáceres, 225 km from Cuiabá.

According to the 70 families in the community, Arcindo Sumbre García, Paulo Pedraza Chore, Yonas Pedraza Tosube and Ezequiel Pedraza Tosube Lopez were hunting in the region of San Matias, a Bolivian city, when they were surprised by the officers.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office lodged a complaint with the Itamaraty against the GEFRON.

A commission was created to investigate the case, comprising representatives of the UFMT (Federal University of Mato Grosso), the National and State Councils of Human Rights, the General Ombudsman’s Office of the Mato Grosso Police, and human rights associations.

Last Tuesday, September 1st, the group was in San Matias, and reports collected suggest that the Bolivian indians went hunting in the border region after getting a call from a local farmer.

“According to the statements, the indians are acquainted with the farmers. And the farmers themselves ask them to hunt because there are many peccaries and wild boars in the region. These animals destroy the crops. So hunting is common,” says Lúcio Andrade, general ombudsman of the Mato Grosso State Police, who visited San Matias.

Still according to reports, the indigenous were armed because they were hunting. As they did not return, their families decided to search the border area and found blood.

After searching through Cáceres, they were located in the emergency room of the Regional Hospital in the Brazilian city.

According to the Mato Grosso police’s account of the day of the events, the officers went to the border after the intelligence service received information that armed traffickers were coming into Brazil.

Upon arrival, the officers claim they saw armed men and were met with gunshots. The officers then fired back and, after the shooting, saw the four indians wounded on the ground.

Next to the indians, the officers found four firearms and several ammunition, but no drugs. The officers claim that they tried to rush the indians to the hospital, but the four died on the way.

The Bolivian press has been describing the case as murder and urging the country’s government to demand answers from Brazil.

The mayor of San Matias, Fábio Lopez, said he will lodge a complaint against the officers with Itamaraty (Brazil’s Foreign Office) and will claim compensation for the victims’ families. “Many children have lost their fathers. And they were the ones who brought food and money to the family. So it is necessary to compensate these families so that they don’t experience hardship.”

He also said that he has been seeking a quick solution with Brazil, emphasizing the good relationship between Brazilians and Bolivians. “We are friends of the Brazilian authorities. That’s why we believe we will find the real culprits of these crimes,” he said.

Olivares met with the Mayor of Cáceres, Francis Maris, and representatives of the GEFRON, the Civil Police, and the Federal Police on Thursday, September 3rd.

Cinthia Gomes da Rocha Cupido, head of the Special Border Police Station (DEFRON) of the Civil Police, told the report that she opened an inquiry to investigate the death of the chiquitano indians in Brazilian territory.

The delegate is waiting for the autopsy and crime scene reports to determine if there was a clash, in addition to the torture charges. Relatives said that when they saw the bodies at the Forensic Institute, they found evidence of torture.

The Mato Grosso Public Safety Secretariat said in a statement that an investigation ruled out that the indians had been tortured.

The portfolio also said it has not yet received any formal complaint from Bolivian authorities regarding the approach taken by the GEFRON. It further stated that it is at the disposal of the neighboring country’s authorities to address the matter.

The note also states that, after the clash, medical assistance was provided to the wounded, who were rushed to the Regional Hospital of Cáceres, where they eventually died.

Source: Folhapress