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Brazil: Maracana indigenous community delay World Cup eviction | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Brazilian indigenous community that has been facing eviction from a building next to the Maracana football stadium has celebrated the police's decision to leave the area. | |
Riot police in Rio de Janeiro had encircled the area early on Saturday expecting a court order to evict them. | |
The building is meant to be demolished as part of preparations for next year's World Cup. | The building is meant to be demolished as part of preparations for next year's World Cup. |
Community leaders said they were ready to fight back with bows and arrows. | |
Campaigners say the eviction and demolition of the historic building - Rio's former indigenous museum, built in 1862 - are unnecessary. | Campaigners say the eviction and demolition of the historic building - Rio's former indigenous museum, built in 1862 - are unnecessary. |
The community, known as Aldeia Maracana (or Maracana tribe), settled in the disused building six years ago. | |
'Tourist attraction' | 'Tourist attraction' |
Brazilian authorities say the area needs to be cleared for the circulation of fans during the 2014 World Cup. | |
Rio's governor Sergio Cabral recently said the demolition was being demanded by the Fifa, the international football federation. | |
But Fifa's office in Brazil issued a letter denying the claim, says the BBC's Julia Carneiro in Rio. | |
There are plans to build a car park in the area. A nearby state school is also due to be demolished, despite protests by parents. | There are plans to build a car park in the area. A nearby state school is also due to be demolished, despite protests by parents. |
Several matches will be played in Brazil's biggest and most famous stadium, including the World Cup final. | Several matches will be played in Brazil's biggest and most famous stadium, including the World Cup final. |
When it reopens, in the next few months, it will have a total capacity of 78,000 spectators. | When it reopens, in the next few months, it will have a total capacity of 78,000 spectators. |
Maracana will also host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics. | Maracana will also host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics. |
The old Indigenous Museum, which belongs to the federal government, is in urgent need of repair. More than 20 families live there, planting traditional herbs and tobacco. | |
Campaign groups have tried to save it and keep the indigenous community where it has lived for the past six years. | Campaign groups have tried to save it and keep the indigenous community where it has lived for the past six years. |
The community hoped to be able to showcase their way of life to tourists during the World Cup. | The community hoped to be able to showcase their way of life to tourists during the World Cup. |
Opposition legislator at the Rio de Janeiro Assembly Marcelo Freixo said tourists "would rather see a historic building next to the stadium than a car park or fast food joint". | Opposition legislator at the Rio de Janeiro Assembly Marcelo Freixo said tourists "would rather see a historic building next to the stadium than a car park or fast food joint". |
A legal battle has been going on for months. | |
The local authorities have failed to get the court order, but campaigners expect the local authorities to continue pursuing the eviction in the next few days. |