On Sunday 13 April, the Bolivian Vice-Ministry of Lands attempted to enter the Alto Parapetí area to undertake an inspection of large ranches that are allegedly holding indigenous Guaraní communities captive.
The Vice-Minister, Alejandro Almaráz, was accompanied by various civil servants, around 150 indigenous people, the cameraman Fernando Cola and journalist Tanimbu Estremadoiro These two latter individuals were making a documentary for IWGIA and the local NGO, CEJIS, on indigenous territorial demands in Bolivia.
The Alto Parapetí cattle ranchers blocked the delegation’s path and attacked its members with sticks and stones. Forty-three people were reportedly injured, 8 of them seriously.
The journalist, Tanimbu, was kidnapped and taken to different places where she was beaten up all day. She was tied to a tree and threatened with rape.
Fernando Cola was also attacked but managed to escape to the forest; he sought safety in a military base the next day.
The aggressors, under orders from the area’s cattle ranchers, stole all the journalists' equipment.
On 16 April, the Army evacuated Fernando and Tanimbu from the area, which was still being blockaded by the cattle ranchers. The Vice-Minister’s staff also had to leave, but made a commitment to return in the coming weeks to conduct what was a completely legal action, despite the fact that the Bolivian media portrayed it as government aggression against the cattle ranchers.
Together with CEJIS, IWGIA is lodging the relevant complaints for aggression against and robbery of the journalists, and drawing attention to the need to continue the process of returning land to the Guaraní communities.
