General Augusto Heleno denounced in UN after attacks on indigenous organization

The complaint was made on a panel discussing the protection of indigenous human rights defenders in Geneva

Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet, General Augusto Heleno, at the Planalto Palace (Photo: Clauber Cleber Caetano/PR)

Just one day after playing down the environmental crisis at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, the Bolsonaro government was denounced once again in the UN Human Rights Council. 

This time, the accusations refer to attacks made by the Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet, General Augusto Heleno, against the indigenous organization APIB (Association of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil). The complaint was lodged by the organization itself, in partnership with Conectas Human Rights.

“Aggressive speeches by Brazilian authorities encourage violence against indigenous peoples and environmental defenders, and we should not forget that native peoples do the most to protect the environment in our country. Brazil is already one of the most dangerous countries in the world for indigenous human rights defenders,” warned the organizations.

• Read the full speech sent to the UN

On Friday, September 18, Heleno declared on his social networks that the association has joined with other groups to tarnish the image of the government abroad, accusing the group of crime against the State. The minister repeated the attack in an interview on Rádio Bandeirantes on Tuesday, September 22.

Other Brazilian organizations at the event also denounced attacks made by the Executive against indigenous leaders. The Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association, through its representative, the indigenous lawyer Cristiane Soares, pointed out that various groups are being intimidated, such as leaders of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau and Guajajara tribes, who have been killed while attempting to protect their land.