In the middle of a protected rainforest in Nicaragua, an illegal rancher known as Chacalin is inspecting a clearing. Despite the fact that the area is a reserve, Chacalin decided to take a piece of land without paying or respecting the laws. Facing the camera with his head down, he admits that if he is removed from there, he will lose the land but not the money.
Since 2016, filmmakers Camilo de Castro and Brad Allgood have visited the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve to document deforestation and indigenous rights violations. The reserve, which covers approximately 2,600 square kilometers and is home to the indigenous Rama people, has been encroached upon by settlers despite legal protections.
Following violently repressed protests in 2018 against the government of Daniel Ortega, De Castro had to flee the country and now lives in exile in Costa Rica. The situation in Indio Maiz has since worsened, and it is too dangerous for the filmmakers to return.
Through updates and images sent by people inside the country via the encrypted app Signal, the filmmakers premiered their documentary called “Patrolling” at a festival in the United States, hoping to draw attention to the situation in Nicaragua.
The documentary follows indigenous Rama and Afro-descendant natives as they patrol their land, facing dangers such as raging rivers, ticks, and jaguars. They encounter illegal settlers who work for wealthy ranchers who pay them to log and clear the land for cattle ranching.
During the filming, an indigenous patrol discovers a large cattle ranch inside the reserve and reports it to the police and the government, but the response is that they must pay to have it investigated. Corruption and impunity are rife, and murders of indigenous people by settlers are frequent.
Deforestation in the region is largely due to illegal cattle ranching, and government corruption allows this to occur without consequences. Nicaragua is one of the suppliers of beef to the United States, but the lack of transparency in the traceability process makes it difficult to know if the meat comes from indigenous forest lands.
The filmmakers urge consumers to be more aware and ask questions about the origin of the beef they buy. They also call on the Nicaraguan government to take legal action and imprison illegal ranchers to send a clear message that the law must be respected.
In summary, the documentary “Patrullaje” exposes deforestation and violations of indigenous rights in the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve in Nicaragua, caused by the invasion of illegal settlers and illegal cattle ranching. The filmmakers draw attention to the situation and call on both consumers and the government to take action to stop these abuses and protect the environment and indigenous rights. and protect the environment and the rights of indigenous people.