Guarani Indians face eviction

The Guarani Ñandeva  community of Yvy Katu is facing the threat of eviction from its land in the first week of September.

The Indians took back their land, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, from big landowners in 2003. The landowners took the case before a judge, who ruled in their favour, which could mean that the community face eviction. This would leave them destitute.

The Indians also fear violent conflict: in June this year, one man was killed and four other people were injured when ranchers attempted to remove another Guarani community from land they had reoccupied.

The Guarani of Yvy Katu are fighting for their land to be demarcated – officially recognised – guaranteeing their rights to live there. On Brazil's'Day of the Indian' on 19 April this year, Yvy Katu was identified by indigenous leaders as one of fourteen indigenous territories across Brazil in urgent need of demarcation.