Prominent Amazon conservation activist murdered
Paulo Paulino, one of the most prominent conservationists in the Amazon rainforest, was shot dead by illegal loggers. Critics say the Brazilian government is complicit.
Paulo Paulino, an indigenous environmental activist in the state of Maranhao, Brazil, was shot dead by illegal loggers, local authorities and the human rights organization Rescue International confirmed.
Another environmental activist who was with Paulo was injured but managed to escape. The two environmental activists were members of the group "Forest Guardians," which works to prevent illegal logging and felling of trees in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples.
Trial of criminals
According to the International Rescue Committee office in Maranhao, two environmental activists from the Guajajara tribe had left their village to fetch water from the forest. There, they were surrounded by “at least five armed men.” Local authorities said one of the loggers had disappeared after the incident. Reports that he was also killed during the attack on the environmental activists have not yet been confirmed.
Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio Moro tweeted that police have opened an investigation into the murder of Paulo Paulino. "It is important to bring those responsible for this case to justice," Moro wrote.
Greenpeace also condemned the deadly attack on two Brazilian environmental activists. It said Paulino, 26, and his injured companion were “the youngest victims of a government that defies constitutional principles.” Greenpeace called the Brazilian government “incapable of fulfilling its duty to protect indigenous activists and their territories.”
Protecting the Amazon from illegal logging
Sarah Schenker, who visited the Amazon a few months ago on behalf of the organization "Rescue International", told AFP that Paulino was determined to continue his fight to protect the forests despite receiving threatening letters. The Brazilian government's failure to do its duty is forcing indigenous people to take on the "difficult and dangerous work" of protecting the forest themselves.
The "Guardians of the Forest" group was founded by the large Guajajara tribe in the state of Maranhao. The tribe has more than 14,000 members. The group's activists aim to protect areas belonging to indigenous peoples from logging and agricultural expansion. The group also helps firefighters put out forest fires.
More violence in indigenous protected areas
Critics of the Brazilian government, led by President Jair Bolsonaro, are blaming the violence in protected areas for the rise in violence. They say the indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest are no longer able to move freely on their land, are not protected, and are not being dealt with if they enter their territories illegally.
The Brazilian president has been under fire for months for his controversial environmental policies, accusing him of preferring to let the Amazon region be plundered by traders.
Bolsonaro is closely linked to Brazil's agribusiness lobby and doubts that humans have any responsibility for the state of the environment.
Source: DW
