In a note, the Hutukara Yanomami Association states that the case, which took place on 12/11, needs to be treated as a hate crime
The Hutukara Associação Yanomami demanded that the authorities investigate the circumstances and those responsible for the shooting attack on a group of indigenous Yanomami that killed a woman and left a man injured. The case is extremely unusual in Boa Vista and occurred in a public place, in the São Vicente neighborhood, close to the center of the capital.
According to statements by the Military Police, two people who were on bicycles fired shots and then fled. 9 mm caliber shells were found at the site. The approximately 30 indigenous people were gathered at the Producer's Fair, a common place for the Yanomami to stay when they are passing through the city.
for Hutukara, the case needs to be investigated as a hate crime. Hate crimes are those where there is intentional violence, physical or otherwise, directed against an individual or group motivated by prejudice and discrimination based on characteristics such as race, origin, religion or ethnicity.
“The presence of the Yanomami group that was the target of attacks in the city has been a constant reason for prejudiced complaints against them, ignoring not only the situation of vulnerability to which they are subject when they are in the city, but also fueling discrimination against indigenous people on grounds of their cultural particularities and ways of life”, says Hutukara in the note.
The group that suffered the attack lives in the Ajarani region, where the Yanomami suffered forced contact with non-indigenous people during the opening of the Perimetral Norte, which took place during the Military Dictatorship and before the demarcation of the Yanomami Indigenous Land, in 1992.
According to the Hutukara note, the infrastructure project led to the death of a significant portion of the population that lived in that region, as well as disrupted the structure of communities and social control mechanisms. A Public Civil Action, filed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), acknowledged the State's responsibility for the situation in which the indigenous people of Ajarani were left.
The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) also asked for an investigation to find out who ordered the attack. This Monday (14/11), the CIR filed letters with the Federal Police, the MPF and the Special Action Group on Minorities and Human Rights.
Through social media, federal deputy Joenia Wapichana (REDE-RR) said she will ask for an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights and Minorities of the Federal Chamber.
In light of the attack on a group of Yanomami indigenous people at the Feira do Produtor, in Boa Vista, which took place yesterday, when unknown persons shot at the indigenous people, leaving one woman dead and one injured, I will ask the Ministry of Justice, the PF and the CDHM of the Chamber to investigate and take immediate action .
— Joenia Wapichana (@JoeniaWapichana) November 12, 2022
So far, the Civil Police have not released information that could lead to suspects for the attack.