Lula is accused of genocide of Yanomami indigenous people

Federal deputy Gustavo Gayer (PL-GO) presented, on Friday (1st), a complaint against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) due to the increase in the number of deaths of Yanomami indigenous people. The complaint was sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The complaint was motivated by information that the Yanomami Land had 363 deaths in the first year of Lula’s government. This represents an increase of 5.8% in the number of deaths, since 343 were recorded in 2022. “Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took over the Palácio do Planalto in 2023 and made great publicity about his proposal to stop the killing of Yanomami, however did not put it into practice and, worst of all, it caused the mortality rate to increase”, said Gayer in the document sent to the ICC.

The document presented to the International Court also presents data on the increase in illegal mining and cases of deforestation occurring in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, located in the states of Amazonas and Roraima. “In view of the serious omission of the current Brazilian Government, indigenous people have been exposed to contact with miners and loggers who operate illegally in the region. There are also chronic cases of malnutrition and disease,” Gayer pointed out.

Bolsonaro is also being investigated for the situation of the Yanomami indigenous people

The situation of the Yanomami indigenous people has already been the subject of other complaints before the International Court. The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) and the Arns Commission argue that former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) committed crimes of genocide during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the way he dealt with the protection of indigenous people in the last four years. The two entities appealed to the ICC against Bolsonaro.

“If the Court was already investigating Bolsonaro, then they will have no other option than to do the same thing with Lula. Or they will have to exonerate Bolsonaro immediately,” said Gayer in a video published on his social media.

Furthermore, shortly after Lula took office, the former Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, ordered the Federal Police to investigate Bolsonaro over the situation of the Yanomami. At the time, Dino requested an investigation for alleged crimes of genocide, failure to provide assistance and environmental crimes against the Yanomami indigenous people, in Roraima.