Accomplished Amazon explorer and avid indigenous rights advocate Sidney Possuelo was fired from his post as director of the Department of Isolated Indians on January 24, just days after he criticized his boss, Reuters reports. Possuelo reportedly compared Mercio Pereira Gomes, President of the National Foundation for Indigenous People (FUNAI), to "ranchers, land-grabbers, miners, and loggers" for implying that Brazilian Indians hold too much land. Pereira’s recent statements were in reference to the conflict resulting in the recent eviction of Guarani and Kaiowá tribes from their homelands. According to Reuters, Pereira told the Supreme Court that indigenous peoples have already been given 12 percent of Brazilian land, and that there may need to be limits set on new land claims. Angered by his boss’ comments, Possuelo was quoted in the media: "If our highest official says the Indians have too much land, he is saying that our society and the destroyers are right. It’s the same thing as a justice minister saying that he does not defend justice or an environment minister calling for the felling of trees," the Christian Science Monitor reports. Soon after Possuelo’s comments were publicized, he was dismissed from his post. A FUNAI spokesman said that Possuelo was relieved of his duties due to "incompatibility" with colleagues, according to Reuters. Possuelo’s firing is a serious blow for indigenous peoples in Brazil, many of whom believe they have now lost their strongest ally in the government.
