Murder of 14-year-old in Bahia highlights centuries-old indigenous land struggle

In the early hours of Sunday, September 4, 14-year-old Gustavo Silva da Conceição was awoken from his sleep and shot in the head. A member of the Pataxó indigenous community in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, Gustavo’s family had peacefully occupied a eucalyptus plantation that the Pataxó claim to be encroaching on their ancestral lands.

Eyewitness accounts say that a group of masked gunmen arrived at the occupation early that morning, carrying shotguns, rifles, and tear gas canisters. They opened fire on the tents assembled in the area, shooting Gustavo and another indigenous teenager. Gustavo was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries. There are conflicting reports regarding the health status of the other victim.

Representatives of the United Movement of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations in Bahia (Mupoiba) visited the scene of the attack and found bloodstains, spent weapon cartridges, and used tear gas canisters.

At the end of June, Gustavo’s Alegria Nova community sealed an agreement with local farm owner Rodrigo Carvalho, as reported by the secretariat of indigenous matters in the Bahia town of Prado, in a letter sent to the Federal Prosecution Service. The deal was that 160 members of the Alegria Nova village would peacefully occupy a part of the Fazenda Santa Bárbara farm, which they claim to be part of their ancestral territory of Comexatibá.

However, the agreement lasted for only three days, giving rise to a wave of threats and intimidation which culminated in the murder of young Gustavo Silva da Conceição.

Indigenous leaders from the Comexatibá and Barra Velha territories said that local farm owners paraded around the occupation with a “motorcade of 60 pickup trucks, with men showing off their heavy weapons.” Sources say that indigenous families were under 24-hour drone surveillance, and that they came across an arms and ammunition depot in a nearby farm. 

These allegations were included in complaints sent by community leaders to public...