Minister of the Environment and artists defend famous activist’s cousin after threats in Brazil
16 de June de 2025
By Jadson Lima – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – Cousin of Chico Mendes, the extractivist leader Raimundo Mendes Barros, known as Raimundão, has become the target of attacks that include death threats. The intimidation escalated after an inspection operation, launched on June 5 and coordinated by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and the Federal Police (PF), targeted suspects of committing environmental crimes in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve (Resex), in the interior of Acre.
The targets of the inspection agencies claim that Raimundão and other local leaders are responsible for reporting the illegal activities occurring in the region. The intimidation was incited after videos were released by ranchers who had hundreds of cattle seized by “Operation Suçuarana,” in which they lamented the seizures. Two of the individuals targeted by the federal agencies’ action are: Josenildo de Souza and Gutierrez Rodrigues. Other people are spreading the threats in messaging app groups.
In a threatening tone, a woman claims that Raimundão and the “people” connected to him “want to live their life as slackers.” The audio incites the assassination of the extractivist leader. “They want to live their life as slackers, just like their relative. That’s why Chico Mendes died. Because their life was about enjoying laziness and meddling in other people’s lives. He even got shot in the chest, or maybe in the face, I don’t know because it wasn’t in my time. But today, if he were alive, maybe the same thing would happen again, just as it’s about to happen with them,” says an excerpt from the voice message.
Chico Mendes was shot dead on December 22, 1988, a week after turning 44 years old. He was hit by gunfire in the backyard of his own home, in the municipality of Xapuri (AC), a region where the trade unionist and activist transformed the lives of many people who, like him, were born and lived in and from the forest.
Marina speaks out
The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, posted on a social media platform this Thursday, the 12th, that a network of disinformation and attacks is being directed at the honor and family of Raimundo Mendes de Barros. Marina emphasized that government actions do not target legally recognized extractivist communities committed to sustainable forest use, but land grabbers operating illegally in the region.
“Unfortunately, a network of disinformation and attacks is being directed at the honor and family of Raimundo Mendes de Barros, known as Raimundão, cousin of Chico Mendes and an important leader of the Resex. I express my support and solidarity with him, his family, and everyone in the community,” declared the minister in the post, accompanied by a photo of Raimundão. See post:
The operation
According to ICMBio, the goal of “Operation Suçuarana” is to remove about 400 head of cattle that are being kept illegally across the entire federal conservation unit, which covers seven municipalities in Acre. These are: Sena Madureira, Rio Branco, Capixaba, Xapuri, Brasiléia, Epitaciolândia, and Assis Brasil. So far, around 300 cattle have been seized by the agencies operating in the interior of Acre.
“The operation’s actions will continue for an indefinite period, until its objectives are achieved. In addition to the removal of cattle in irregular conditions, violators will be fined for other illegal activities identified during the inspection, such as obstruction of inspection actions and hindering the regeneration of native vegetation, since the animals were caught grazing in prohibited areas,” ICMBio said in a press release.
The regional manager of ICMBio for the Amazon, Carla Lessa, stated that the action in the Resex represents the recovery of the conservation unit’s goals. “The Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve is our most deforested unit, and in light of this scenario, we are carrying out continuous operations of protection, identification, and punishment of violators,” she emphasized.
Operation Suçuarana is supported by the Acre Military Environmental Police Battalion (BPA), National Force (FN), Federal Highway Police (PRF), Federal Police (PF), Brazilian Army (EB), Federal Public Ministry (MPF), and the Acre State Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Defense (IDAF).
Operation complies with court ruling
This Saturday, the 14th, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) clarified that the operation in the Resex complies with court decisions confirming the illegality of cattle raising in embargoed areas of the unit. According to the ministry, those responsible for these practices have been prosecuted since 2016, appealed to the courts, and lost in all instances.
“Misleading content is circulating on social media attempting to distort the character of the operation, erroneously suggesting supposed persecution of vulnerable or traditional populations. Such claims do not reflect the reality of the facts and disregard the legitimate focus of the action, which is the fight against illegal practices that endanger the environmental integrity of the reserve and the rights of the communities that depend on it,” says an excerpt from a statement published on the ministry’s website.
Other demonstrations of solidarity
Following the attacks, civil society organizations and public figures also came out in defense of the extractivist leader. The Central Única dos Trabalhadores (Single Workers’ Central (CUT)) of Acre strongly condemned the attacks suffered by Raimundão and people connected to him who are being targeted by suspects of environmental crimes in the region. A statement released on Monday, the 9th, describes Chico Mendes’s cousin as a human being of “unshakable history and character, who has done an excellent job of environmental preservation, maintenance, and protection.”
“Raimundão does not deserve to be the target of attacks by people who oppose and do not recognize his work throughout his life journey. CUT/AC strongly repudiates all slanderous attacks against comrade Raimundão and his entire family. May his honor, and a life dedicated to community teachings in defense of the reserve, the forest, the environment, and the people, be respected,” says an excerpt from the note signed by the president of CUT/AC, Edmar Batistela. See note:
Actor Bruno Gagliasso used his profile on a digital platform to state that Raimundo de Barros is now the guardian of the Chico Mendes Resex, a socio-environmental protection area with a standing and productive forest. “To ensure a possible future, it is essential that leaders like Raimundão become references and are heard! The Extractive Reserves are achievements of Chico Mendes’s legacy and his companions, and it is a constitutional right for all of us,” said the artist.
Actress Dira Paes lent her voice to amplify the voices of Extractive Reserves throughout Brazil. In a video published on the @chicovive profile this Saturday, the artist says in a voice-over (voice covered by images) that Raimundão is today the guardian of the Chico Mendes Resex. “Acre is currently undergoing a campaign of destruction and defamation against the preservation of the standing forest, with productivity and sustainability,” reads the video caption.
In the narration, Dira Paes states that it is essential that leaders like Raimundão become references and are heard. “The extractive reserves are achievements of the legacy of Chico Mendes and his companions. And it is a constitutional right of all of us. Today we have Resexs spread across Brazil. Learn more about the Extractive Reserves in our country and fight like Raimundão,” says the actress.