Brazilian Government Says it Complied With the Law on Repossession in Mato Grosso do Sul

06/06/2013 - 08h27

On Wednesday, President Dilma Rousseff refuted the assertion by Minister Gilberto Carvalho (General Secretariat of the Presidency), that she would have disavowed Minister José Eduardo Cardozo (Justice) for the activities of the Federal Police in a repossession in Sidrolândia (Mato Grosso do Sul).

The action resulted in the death of the Terena Indian Oziel Gabriel, 35, struck by a bullet in the abdomen during a clash with police at the site.

"We comply with the law and we think the law is not something that people can say 'I don't like this one, I like that one.' It's not like this. Everybody in this country abides by the law. From the President of the Republic to the baby that has just been born," said Rousseff.

Marcos Tome/Região News

Clash with police in Mato Grosso do Sul, where the indigenus Oziel Gabriel, 35, died

Two days ago, during an event at the Presidential Palace, Carvalho said the president reportedly told Cardozo that the repossession determined by the court should not have been obeyed by the FP.

On Wednesday, the Federal Court in Mato Grosso do Sul suspended the order of removal of Indians from the Buriti farm, where the Terena died last week.

The area has been occupied since May 15. The farm had already been recognized as indigenous land, but the process was not yet complete because the owner appealed and obtained favorable decisions the second time.

The tragedy triggered a reaction from the Terenas, who began to invade other farms in the region - on Tuesday, another Indian was shot in the back during the invasion of another area nearby, the São Sebastião farm.

The worsening situation made the government send 110 soldiers of the National Security Force to the region.

Translated by DAVE WOLIN

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