Indigenous peoples
On 13 January up to 50 heavily armed gunmen (pistoleiros) in military uniforms converged on the village of Potrero Gua�u, Paranhos municipality, burning most of the 35 houses and many of the villagers' belongings. They reportedly raped several women and beat other villagers including a two-year-old child. Thirty of the villagers, members of the Guarani-Nhandeva indigenous community, were reportedly forced onto a truck and taken away, in an attempt to clear them off the land. Although the villagers returned to their land with the help of the Federal Police, they continued to receive threats.
Indigenous peoples protesting over land rights suffered threats, harassment and assaults by gunmen hired by local landowners, working with the acquiescence of the police and local authorities. Many indigenous peoples also suffered injuries as a result of excessive force used by military police during public demonstrations.