Defending the environment in Brazil seems increasingly equivalent to a death sentence. For decades, indigenous people, who ask for nothing more than to live their lives and preserve their identity, have been subjected to attacks and harassment, as though living in a different way, outside mainstream society, were not permitted. For just under a year, however, the situation has deteriorated sharply — namely since the election of Jair Bolsonaro as president.

Bolsonaro, who has described indigenous people as "prehistoric men", has repeatedly encouraged the occupation of their territories, also significantly reducing the functions of Funai. The consequences of this politics of hatred — which sees indigenous people as an obstacle and the Amazon rainforest as a resource to be commercially exploited — are becoming ever more apparent. The latest confirmation is the murder of Paulo Paulino, a member of Brazil's Guajajara tribe.

Victim of an ambush

The man, in his early twenties and the father of a child, was killed by a gunshot to the neck during an ambush apparently set by a group of illegal loggers against the Guardians of the Amazon, a group of Guajajara who patrol the forest to prevent its destruction. In the attack, which took place in the Araribóia indigenous territory in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, another guardian, Tainaky Tenetehar, was wounded in the back and arm but managed to escape. Brazilian police reported that one of the loggers was also killed in the shooting.

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Justice for Paulino

The body of Paulo Paulino, according to reports from the Brazilian pan-indigenous organisation Apib, was still in the forest awaiting recovery. Brazil's Justice Minister, Sergio Moro, described the episode as a "terrible crime", stating that "we will spare no effort to bring those responsible for this serious crime to justice".

The champions of the Amazon

The Guardians of the Amazon, of whom Paulino was a member, are a group of Guajajara who, in order to protect their people and help the uncontacted Awá with whom they share their territory, began patrolling the forest and halting the incursions of illegal loggers. "These people think they can come here, into our home, and take our forest freely? No. We won't let them," Paulino had told Survival, the global movement for indigenous peoples' rights, a few months earlier. Protecting the forest — a heritage belonging not only to indigenous peoples but to all of humanity by virtue of its indispensable ecosystem services — carries enormous risks, however. In addition to Paulino, at least three other guardians have reportedly been killed by loggers and land grabbers, along with many of their relatives, according to Survival.

Martyrs of the forest

Yet another murder of an environmental activist in Brazil highlights the exponential growth in violence against the protectors of the Amazon rainforests, who are being forced against their will to become martyrs. "Bolsonaro's government has indigenous blood on its hands," reads a statement from Apib. "The increase in violence in indigenous territories is the direct result of his hateful speeches and the steps taken against our people." To raise global public awareness of the ongoing genocide in Brazil, a delegation of indigenous people from Apib is travelling across Europe.

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Paulino and the other activists killed before him knew full well what was at stake, but they had no choice if they wanted to protect their forest and secure a future for their children. "Paulino knew he might pay for his commitment with his life," recounted Sarah Shenker, Survival's researcher for Brazil, who had accompanied the Guardians on one of their patrol operations, "but he saw no alternative because the authorities were doing nothing to protect the forest and enforce the law".

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