"It is now essential that the Federal government take the necessary steps to provide security in the region during these vital first years of the officially recognised territory. Particularly as this is the period during which compensation claims will have to be settled," said the organization.

Today on Brazil's Day of the Indian, Amnesty International is also calling on the Brazilian federal government to ensure that this is not an isolated example, and that it be included as part of a wider strategy for settling indigenous land claims across the country. "Up until now the indigenous policy of the Lula government has been inconsistent at best. The authorities must now turn their attention to the appalling plight of indigenous peoples in other parts of Brazil, such as the Guarani-Kaiowá of Mato Grosso do Sul," the organization concluded.

Further information :Interactive map of Brazil's indigenous communities

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