Entire tribe threatens to commit mass suicide after Brazil court rules they must leave sacred burial land

A court in Brazil ruled that the Guarani-kaiowa tribe of Mato Grosso do Sul must leave their sacred land. The tribe of 170 aboriginals have decided not to leave their sacred burial grounds and threatened to commit mass suicide as their last resort.The tribe first protested by putting crosses into the lawn at the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasilia. The whole tribe vowed to commit suicide if their land is taken, but the court only decreed a fine of 150 Euros for each day the tribe stays on the land. For more information, check out this article.

Protest at the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasilia

This brings up an interesting dilemma; should the Brazilian government be in favor of the aboriginals keeping their land, or letting a rich ranch owner exploit the land? I personally believe the aboriginals should keep their land because it threatens their sovereignty. Colonists have already taken most of their land to exploit, and left them with few places that they can express their culture to the fullest. Thus, eliminating a whole tribe to give way to agricultural development is utterly senseless! If the government actually lets the ranch owner take the land, they will be faced with the guilt of being responsible for an ethnic cleansing.

By Alexis Pelletier