Brazil Land Dispute: Farmers Clash with Indigenous Groups in Mato Grosso

Over the weekend, armed men backed by farmers attacked Indigenous people reclaiming land in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul, injuring 11. The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs cited legal uncertainty around land claims as a cause. As Brazil's farm frontier expands, such conflicts are becoming more common.

In a weekend fraught with tension, armed individuals supported by farmers attacked Indigenous people who were reclaiming land in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, leaving 11 injured, officials and rights groups confirmed on Monday.

The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs reported that five out of ten injured on Saturday required hospitalization for gunshot and rubber bullet wounds in the Douradina district. The ministry attributed the violence to the legal ambiguities surrounding Indigenous land claims.

Sunday saw further escalations as farmers broke through ropes demarcating the contested land and set fire to Indigenous tents, with police unable to prevent the violence, said the Indigenous Missionary Council. This conflict arises amidst ongoing legislative debates over a controversial law on Indigenous land claims, as Brazil's agricultural frontier encroaches upon traditionally Indigenous territories.

(With inputs from agencies.)