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Brazil indigenous group clashes with police in Congress | Brazil indigenous group clashes with police in Congress |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Brazilian indigenous protesters armed with bows and arrows have clashed with police inside the National Congress building in the capital, Brasilia. | Brazilian indigenous protesters armed with bows and arrows have clashed with police inside the National Congress building in the capital, Brasilia. |
The group, with some 30 men, tried to break into the building to protest against a bill on indigenous lands. | The group, with some 30 men, tried to break into the building to protest against a bill on indigenous lands. |
Police officers used pepper spray and blocked access to a committee that was due to vote on the proposal. | Police officers used pepper spray and blocked access to a committee that was due to vote on the proposal. |
An arrow struck a policeman's boot but he was uninjured, said the Brazilian authorities. | An arrow struck a policeman's boot but he was uninjured, said the Brazilian authorities. |
Following the brief confrontation, the committee session was called off. | Following the brief confrontation, the committee session was called off. |
Four indigenous men have been detained and taken to a police station for questioning. | Four indigenous men have been detained and taken to a police station for questioning. |
They are suspected of throwing arrows at police officers at a side entrance to the Congress building. | They are suspected of throwing arrows at police officers at a side entrance to the Congress building. |
'Undemocratic decision' | 'Undemocratic decision' |
The bill, known as PEC 215/00, would give the Brazilian Congress powers to demarcate the indigenous lands. | The bill, known as PEC 215/00, would give the Brazilian Congress powers to demarcate the indigenous lands. |
The 1988 Constitution gave the indigenous groups rights over their ancestral lands. | The 1988 Constitution gave the indigenous groups rights over their ancestral lands. |
But many indigenous areas, especially in western Brazil and the Amazon region, have been occupied by farmers and loggers. | But many indigenous areas, especially in western Brazil and the Amazon region, have been occupied by farmers and loggers. |
Indigenous leaders would prefer the indigenous agency, Funai, to remain with a prominent role in the demarcation of their ancestral lands. | Indigenous leaders would prefer the indigenous agency, Funai, to remain with a prominent role in the demarcation of their ancestral lands. |
They say wealthy landowners and loggers have too much power and influence in the National Congress. | |
One of the main supporters of the constitutional amendment, Senator Katia Abreu, says Funai's role in undemocratic. | One of the main supporters of the constitutional amendment, Senator Katia Abreu, says Funai's role in undemocratic. |
"The decisions on demarcations are taken by a lone anthropologist after hearing the indigenous groups. The National Congress, which is elected by the people, is not consulted," she told Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper last year. | "The decisions on demarcations are taken by a lone anthropologist after hearing the indigenous groups. The National Congress, which is elected by the people, is not consulted," she told Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper last year. |
The main problem indigenous groups face in Brazil, she added, "is not the lack of land, but the lack of support from Funai on health and education". | The main problem indigenous groups face in Brazil, she added, "is not the lack of land, but the lack of support from Funai on health and education". |
She says indigenous people account for only 1% of the Brazilian population but are entitled to 12% of the country's territory. |