As a recently contacted people, the Korubo are of keen interest to missionaries. Photograph: Paulo Mumia
In a remote part of the Amazon rainforest near the boundary with Peru, evangelical missionaries have been caught covertly attempting to preach to one of the few remaining uncontacted civilizations known as the Korubo, who have lived in isolation with zero contact from the outside world for generations.
A joint investigation conducted by The Guardian, and Brazil's O Globo found that small solar-powered audio devices were designed and discovered in the Korubo's territory. The pocket-sized devices, known as "Messengers", play recordings of the Bible in Spanish & Portuguese, and are evidently intended to evangelize the Korubo people without their consent, knowledge, or understanding.
The devices were made by a U.S.-based evangelical organization known as In Touch Ministries, and are typically given to remote communities; however under Brazilian law, attempts to evangelize uncontacted tribes are illegal.
However, it has been alleged that missionaries connected to a group that actively disregards these laws, called Asas de Socorro, had harebored the audio devices into Korubo territory. There are up to seven devices confirmed, one of which is in the possession of a Korubo elder.
Brazil’s Indigenous protection agency, FUNAI, has indicated that it is investigating the matter, and there are unconfirmed reports of drones that have been operating in the space, ostensibly being used by these same missionaries. This thorough contempt for agency and the integrity of uncontacted peoples illustrates the troubling lengths to which some religious groups will go in order to convert others to their beliefs, regardless of consent, legality, or harm.
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