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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Brazil considers Indian land case | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Supreme Court judges in Brazil are debating how to proceed with a key indigenous land rights ruling after one justice asked for more time. | |
| The court has been asked to rule on whether a reservation in the Amazonian state of Roraima can remain a single unbroken territory. | |
| Indian leaders in Brazil say the case could set a crucial precedent for the protection of their ancestral lands. | Indian leaders in Brazil say the case could set a crucial precedent for the protection of their ancestral lands. |
| But rice farmers say they could be forced to leave the area. | |
| The Supreme Court judges gathered in Brasilia to decide if they should uphold the status of Raposa Serra do Sol as an official reservation, which was granted in 2005. | |
| However, they must first decide whether to continue as planned after one judge asked for more time and it is not clear whether the judgement, which was already delayed last August, will be interrupted again, Brazilian media say. | |
| There are more than 100 similar cases before the Supreme Court but it is thought this ruling will establish an important legal precedent, which touches on a number of sensitive issues. | |
| Unbroken territory | Unbroken territory |
| At the centre of this case is a large area of land in the far north of Brazil, known as Raposa Serra do Sol, which is home to 19,000 Amazonian Indians and which was approved as an official reservation in 2005. | At the centre of this case is a large area of land in the far north of Brazil, known as Raposa Serra do Sol, which is home to 19,000 Amazonian Indians and which was approved as an official reservation in 2005. |
| Indian leaders want the court to confirm that the reservation, which stretches over 1.7m hectares, should be preserved as a single unbroken territory. | Indian leaders want the court to confirm that the reservation, which stretches over 1.7m hectares, should be preserved as a single unbroken territory. |
| They say if the court rules against them it will send a signal to land grabbers, prospectors and loggers that it would be acceptable to invade indigenous territory. | They say if the court rules against them it will send a signal to land grabbers, prospectors and loggers that it would be acceptable to invade indigenous territory. |
| However, around 200 rice producers who also live and work in the area say that would force them to leave and would undermine economic development in the state of Roraima. | However, around 200 rice producers who also live and work in the area say that would force them to leave and would undermine economic development in the state of Roraima. |
| To add to a complicated dispute, one indigenous group in the reservation supports the farmers, and the issue has been the subject of growing tension and conflict. | To add to a complicated dispute, one indigenous group in the reservation supports the farmers, and the issue has been the subject of growing tension and conflict. |
| Some military leaders say they fear a large, almost autonomous Indian reservation running along a lengthy section of Brazil's frontier would have implications for national security - a claim strongly contested by indigenous communities who say it would remain Brazilian territory. | Some military leaders say they fear a large, almost autonomous Indian reservation running along a lengthy section of Brazil's frontier would have implications for national security - a claim strongly contested by indigenous communities who say it would remain Brazilian territory. |
| Police have stepped up security in the area, although officers say they are not expecting major trouble, reports BBC Brasil's Edson Porto from Roraima. | Police have stepped up security in the area, although officers say they are not expecting major trouble, reports BBC Brasil's Edson Porto from Roraima. |
| Dionito Jose de Souza, co-ordinator of Roraima's Indigenous Centre, said he doubted the Supreme Court would rule against the continued demarcation of the reserve as it is. | Dionito Jose de Souza, co-ordinator of Roraima's Indigenous Centre, said he doubted the Supreme Court would rule against the continued demarcation of the reserve as it is. |
| "We are not even going to consider that. It would be disrespectful to indigenous people and to the constitution," he said. | "We are not even going to consider that. It would be disrespectful to indigenous people and to the constitution," he said. |
| However, reports in the Brazilian media suggest that some of the judges are now inclined towards what they see as a compromise verdict, which would recognise indigenous rights, but also take account of worries about the country's sovereignty as well. | However, reports in the Brazilian media suggest that some of the judges are now inclined towards what they see as a compromise verdict, which would recognise indigenous rights, but also take account of worries about the country's sovereignty as well. |