Two weeks before being shot in Simões Filho on Thursday (17), Mother Bernadette asked the Federal Supreme Court (STF) for more security through Minister Rosa Weber, with whom she was at an event on July 26. On the occasion, she recalled the lack of resolution in the case of the murder of her son, Binho do Quilombo, in 2017, and reported threats she suffered in the region and a reality in which she lived ‘monitored’.
“Recently, I lost another friend, and a friend from the quilombo too. That’s what we received: threats. Mainly, from farmers and people from the region. That’s what we received. Today I live like this: I can’t leave because I’m being searched, my dear. Her house is all surrounded by cameras, I even feel bad about something like this”, said Mother Bernadette in an outburst to the Minister.
At the Instituto Médico Legal Nina Rodrigues, in Salvador, where he is dealing with the release of Mother Bernadette’s body, Wellington Pacífico, son of the quilombola leader, recalled his mother’s request. “She spoke, asked for more security and I was present on the day. We are persecuted, our leaders are killed. I lost my only brother six years ago and now I lose my mother in the same way, through execution”, he said. , expressing disgust with the case.
The President of the Federal Supreme Court and the National Council of Justice, Rosa Weber, spoke about the death of Mother Bernadette and demanded clarification. She recalled the encounter she had with the quilombola leader.
See the note in full:
“I deeply regret the death of Maria Bernadete Pacífico, from Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares, whom I met less than a month ago along with other leaders at Quilombo Quingoma, in Bahia.
Mother Bernardete, who spoke to me personally about the violence to which the quilombolas are exposed and revealed the pain of losing her son to 14 shots within the community, was killed in circumstances that are still unexplained.
The local authorities must adopt measures for the urgent clarification and repair of what happened, so that those who sponsored the cowardly plot are held accountable and immediately protect the relatives of Mãe Bernardete and other local leaders.
It is absolutely appalling that the quilombolas, whose ancestors fought with all their strength and lost their lives to escape slavery, still live in a situation of extreme vulnerability in their lands. As is the right of all Brazilians, quilombolas need to live in peace and have their individual rights respected.”
Wellington also recalled that his mother is a national leader figure for the quilombola people and fought several struggles to defend the rights of quilombos in Salvador, Bahia and Brazil. “My mother is the national coordinator of the Quilombos, at Conaq. She fought for resources, improvements and the rights of the quilombolas. And anyone who fights in this way is eliminated by the system. History is there to prove it”, he pointed out.
Mother Bernadette’s body will be released at the Instituto Médico Legal at 10:30 am this Friday. She will be veiled at Quilombo Pitanga de Palmares during the night and dawn, being buried early in the morning at the Quilombo.
Teams from the Military, Civil and Technical Police are taking steps to investigate the murder of Ialoxirá and quilombola leader Mãe Bernadete. The information was disclosed by the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), this Friday (18).
In the note, the SSP informs that “after becoming aware of the fact, they immediately started the diligence and expertise on the spot to identify the perpetrators of the crime”. The secretariat asks that people who have clues about the perpetrators inform the police, in secrecy, via telephone 181.
