Protector of Amazonian tribes killed by arrow at work | NOW

A Brazilian man who worked for a government organization protecting Amazonian indigenous tribes was killed on the job on Wednesday as he tried to reach an isolated group.

Friends of Rieli Franciscato, 56, and police confirm the news that the activist was killed by an arrow on Wednesday in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, in the west of the country near the border with Bolivia. There he tried to establish contact with a previously isolated group for a government organization. He followed this tribe for quite some time.

A police officer describes how Franciscato and his team were bombarded with arrows as they headed towards the group in their canoe.

Isolated tribes are more likely to react violently to outside rapprochement. A former colleague of Franciscato reported to the news agency Reuters that the activist was very aware of these dangers and that he had asked the police to accompany this mission. Perhaps it was precisely this presence that triggered the aggression.

Franciscato founded an organization in the 1980s to protect native tribes. During that period, more and more groups came under pressure from illegal agriculture and people looking for gold in the Amazon. This organization said in a statement that the tribe probably could not distinguish between friend and foe.

Tribes are under pressure

Activists protecting indigenous tribes have been under increased pressure in recent years by President Jair Bolsonaro’s policies. He wants to limit the influence of these tribes in the Amazon region to make room for economic development. He’d wanted to get rid of the government organization that Franciscato worked for for some time.

Cutbacks in this organization make it increasingly difficult for employees to pay for personal protection. This increases the risk of violent encounters, both with tribes and illegal farmers.

– .