Indigenous Guaraní blocked the Bandeirantes Highway in protest of proposed legislation that would change the policy demarcating indigenous lands on the outskirts of São Paulo.
Ettore Chiriguine/The Associated Press
Hide caption
Switch caption
Ettore Chiriguine/The Associated Press
Indigenous Guaraní blocked the Bandeirantes Highway in protest of proposed legislation that would change the policy demarcating indigenous lands on the outskirts of São Paulo.
Ettore Chiriguine/The Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO – Lawmakers in Brazil have approved a proposal that opponents argue will affect indigenous land rights and environmental protection.
The swift approval highlights the strength of Brazil’s robust agricultural industry. Indigenous leaders pledged further protests.
The law passed through Brazil’s lower house of parliament late Tuesday and is expected to be approved by the Senate. Among its provisions, it would limit the creation of new Indigenous Reserves in territories occupied by Indigenous people only in 1988. This is the date of the last Brazilian Constitution.
Indigenous chiefs closed a major highway in protest of the proposed legislation. Many held signs saying, “We were there before 1988.” clashed with the police, using bows and arrows Security forces dispersed the crowd with water cannons and tear gas.
Indigenous Guaraní people block the Bandeirantes Highway with burning tires in protest of proposed legislation that would change the policy demarcating indigenous lands on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil.
Ettore Chiriguine/The Associated Press
Hide caption
Switch caption
Ettore Chiriguine/The Associated Press
Indigenous Guaraní people block the Bandeirantes Highway with burning tires in protest of proposed legislation that would change the policy demarcating indigenous lands on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil.
Ettore Chiriguine/The Associated Press
Opponents of the law say that many tribes were expelled from their lands during the Brazilian military dictatorship, which ended in 1985, and did not return to their lands until years later.
There are 764 indigenous territories in Brazil, but more than 300 of them have not been formally demarcated and remain in legal limbo. Most of them are located in the Amazon region and serve as major buffers against deforestation.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recognized six new territories in April. He has vowed to protect indigenous rights and reverse years of rainforest destruction. Under the previous far-right administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, the demarcation of indigenous lands stalled.
New Minister for Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajara speaks during the opening ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, January 11.
Iraldo Perez/AP
Hide caption
Switch caption
Iraldo Perez/AP
New Minister for Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajara speaks during the opening ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, January 11.
Iraldo Perez/AP
Lula created a new Ministry of Indigenous Peoples. her minister, Sonia Guajarara is not following anyone. Autodesk_newHe described the new bill as “genocide against indigenous people” as well as an “attack on the environment”.
Brazil’s vital agricultural industry made big gains in last year’s elections and conservative lawmakers allied in the sector support the proposal. The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote, where the farm lobby has strong support and could override a presidential veto.
. “Proud zombie lover. Evil pop culture buff. Amateur thinker. Total food practitioner. Tv evangelist.”