In 2020, Gilmar Mendes warned: Bolsonaro and the Army are partners in the genocide of indigenous people.

The recent news that the Federal Police have opened an investigation into the alleged crime of genocide against the Yanomami people is a loophole that promises to shed light on Bolsonaro's criminal actions. The former president even vetoed the government's obligation to provide access to drinking water and distribute hygiene and cleaning products to indigenous peoples. Overall, the management of the pandemic violated principles established by the 1988 Constitution. Article 196 defines that "health is a right of all and a duty of the State."

Thus, when the government refused to buy vaccines, tried to hide the number of deaths, prohibited the use of masks, and distributed ineffective medications through the Unified Health System (such as chloroquine, ivermectin, and others), it was acting willfully and violating the Constitution. In practice, Bolsonaro used the virus as a biological weapon to decimate the vulnerable population. The genocidal tactic had a name: "immunization by contagion." (something that science has already proven doesn't work).

There were more than 700 victims. According to research, four out of five deaths could have been avoided if Bolsonaro had chosen to take the correct measures. With no doctor willing to tarnish their biography and career with the mass murder of the population, it fell to the Brazilian Army to appoint an active-duty general to fill the post of Minister of Health. General Eduardo Pazuello received generous pay to accept the captain's orders: "It's that simple: one commands and the other obeys," he declared.

Back in 2020, before the tragedy that would strike in 2021 with the collapse of the country's healthcare system – starting in Amazonas in January, and then in other states in the following months – Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes declared that General Pazuello's presence in the Ministry of Health was evidence that "the Army is associating itself with this genocide, it's not reasonable. This needs to end." According to the doctor and former Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, there was "a military occupation of the Ministry of Health."

Outraged by the stark truth, the military mobilized the then Minister of Defense, Fernando Azevedo, released a statement signed by the three commanders of the armed forces, and filed a complaint with the Attorney General's Office against Gilmar Mendes' criticism of the Army. Doubling down, days later Gilmar publicly reiterated his statements and emphasized that genocide could "be being perpetrated against indigenous peoples."

A dossier published in 2022 by employees of FUNAI (National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples) denounced the growing militarization of the agency, which had become a "defender of rural interests" with "evident anti-indigenous interests." Another report published in the press indicated that the Bolsonaro government offered more than 50 authorizations for illegal mining in protected areas. In 2021, in a mocking gesture, Bolsonaro visited an illegal mining area. Wearing a headdress (a sacred item in indigenous culture), the genocidal leader gave a speech defending the irregular mining activities.

After accompanying President Lula on a visit to an indigenous village in Roraima, the current Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, stated that illegal mining, as well as the omission and lack of assistance from public authorities, are the main causes of the Yanomami genocide. Indigenous leader Junior Hekurari declared that approximately 60 requests for help were sent to various agencies of the Bolsonaro government. All were ignored or denied. The scenes of malnourished indigenous people shown in the media are reminiscent of the physical condition of Jews rescued from Nazi concentration camps after the end of World War II.

The extermination promoted by Hitler was called "genocide," a combination of the Greek term "genos" (race) and the Latin "cide" (to kill). A genocidal person is one who acts to decimate, totally or partially, a "race," "people," or "ethnic group." Hitler killed Jews through actions in concentration camps. It seems that Bolsonaro killed indigenous people through action (allowing illegal mining) and omission (not sending aid when requested).

With the support of the Brazilian Army, Jair Bolsonaro was the ruler who most violated human rights in the country's recent history. The Federal Police investigation has many indications pointing to evidence that will certainly be considered by the justice system, whose duty is to observe and apply the law. The Army… well, it's already accustomed to massacring indigenous people without any punishment – ​​as shown in the report of the National Truth Commission – thanks to the convenient Amnesty Law. In Brazil, when it comes to violations of life and human dignity, the uniform is historically synonymous with impunity. We'll see how long that lasts.