Indigenous leaders on the Brazilian-Peruvian border say their communities are being 'taken hostage' by organised crime groups, prompting a delegation to Brasília after masked, armed men entered homes in a village earlier this month.
Key facts
- Indigenous leaders on the Brazil-Peru border say communities are being 'taken hostage' by organised crime groups.
- Masked men with semi-automatic weapons entered homes in Apiwtxa, in the Kampa do Rio Amônia Indigenous territory, earlier this month.
- Crime groups are accused of destroying rainforest, building roads and trafficking drugs across the region.
- A delegation was sent to Brasília in response, according to the Guardian.
Indigenous leaders in the western Amazon say organised crime groups are running rampant across the Brazilian-Peruvian border region, with communities describing themselves as being “taken hostage,” according to the Guardian.
Earlier this month, masked men armed with semi-automatic weapons entered homes in Apiwtxa, a village in the Kampa do Rio Amônia Indigenous territory. The Guardian reports that the men intimidated residents and searched for targets.
Local leaders say the crime groups are destroying rainforest, building roads and trafficking drugs across the region, activities they link to the intrusions into their communities.
In response to the escalating situation, a delegation was sent to Brasília, the report says, as leaders seek to raise the alarm with national authorities about the security threat facing their territories.
The account, drawn from the Guardian’s reporting, points to growing pressure on Indigenous communities located along the remote border area, where both criminal activity and environmental destruction are said to be intensifying.
Why it matters
The western Amazon is home to Indigenous communities and vital rainforest that plays a role in global climate stability. Reports of armed organised crime groups moving into these territories raise serious concerns about safety, deforestation and the ability of authorities to protect remote regions.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in Apiwtxa?
According to the Guardian, masked men armed with semi-automatic weapons entered homes in Apiwtxa, a village in the Kampa do Rio Amônia Indigenous territory, earlier this month, intimidating residents and searching for targets.
What are the organised crime groups accused of doing?
Local leaders say the groups are destroying rainforest, building roads and trafficking drugs across the Brazil-Peru border region.
How have Indigenous leaders responded?
The Guardian reports that a delegation was sent to Brasília to raise the issue with national authorities.