Indigenous groups in the Tapajós region have invaded a major agribusiness port terminal in Santarém, Brazil, in a protest against a government decree impacting their land rights.
Indigenous peoples from the lower, middle, and upper Tapajós regions invaded the port terminal of the multinational agribusiness company Cargill in Santarém, Brazil, on the morning of August 21, after blocking access to the port complex for 31 days. The protest was in response to the federal government's decree 12.600/2025, which includes the Tapajós waterway in the National Privatization Plan (PNE). The invasion was prompted by a lack of government response to their main demand for the withdrawal of the decree imposed by President Lula on August 28, 2025.
The decision to invade was not made impulsively; it followed collective discussions among the indigenous communities and included input from elders, legal analyses, and political evaluations. They received a formal eviction notice from a court official on August 20, which required them to vacate the protest area within 48 hours. This added urgency to their situation and led to the decisive action taken by the indigenous groups.
The implications of this invasion could be significant for the relationship between indigenous communities and the Brazilian government, particularly concerning land rights and environmental concerns. The Tapajós waterway is crucial for indigenous territories, and its inclusion in a privatization plan raises fears of further encroachment on their lands and traditional ways of life. The situation serves as a stark reminder of ongoing struggles faced by indigenous groups in Brazil as they seek to protect their rights and preserve their cultural heritage against powerful agribusiness interests.
