Indigenous leader murdered and village driven out by brazilian miners

An indigenous reserve in the Brazilian Amazon has been occupied by around 50 illegal gold miners, who invaded Saturday, days after the body of a community leader was found near the village of Mariry.

The indigenous peoples have reportedly evacuated Mariry to the larger nearby village of Aramira, but reports of gunfire near that village followed.

A senator for the state of Amapa revealed the situation on Twitter Saturday, after receiving audio messages from local tribal leaders asking for military assistance.

It is believed the culprits are “garimpeiros”, illegal miners seeking to prospect for gold on tribal lands which are located within protected reserves.

Brazilian opposition have accused President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration of encouraging actions against native peoples in pursuit of such resources.

Bolsonaro told reporters on Monday that he did not believe the dead tribal leader, Emyra Waiãpi, had been murdered, despite his body being found with stab wounds.

The Amapa regional government has dispatched state and federal police to the villages, which are highly remote and thus difficult to access.