Brazilian Indigenous groups protest as lawmakers approve bill limiting recognition of ancestral land

[Judi Lynn]

By Tatiana Arias, Duarte Mendonca, Julia Vargas Jones and Tara John, CNN

Updated 1:51 AM EDT, Wed May 31, 2023

(CNN)
Brazil’s lower house of Congress on Tuesday night approved a bill that would limit the recognition of ancestral lands in a vote met by protests from Indigenous groups.

The bill, known as PL 490/2007, would strip the environment and Indigenous people ministries of some powers, weakening their oversight of environmental protections and the demarcation of Indigenous lands.

The proposed legislation, which passed by 283 votes to 155, still requires approval from the Senate and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Ahead of the vote, Indigenous groups blocked a highway just outside the country’s largest city Sao Paulo. Protesters burned tires, fired arrows and threw objects at the riot and military police, who used water cannons and tear gas in return.

More:
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/30/americas/brazil-indigenous-protest-bill-intl-latam/index.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Indigenous groups protest Brazil bill that limits land recognition

President Lula has promised to repair the damage to the Amazon caused by his predecessor

By CNN | CNN.com
PUBLISHED: May 30, 2023 at 4:56 p.m. | UPDATED: May 30, 2023 at 4:57 p.m.
By Duarte Mendonca, Julia Vargas Jones and Tara John | CNN

Indigenous groups blocked a highway just outside the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo and burned tires in the early hours of Tuesday to protest a draft bill that could hamper efforts for indigenous ancestral lands to gain protected status.

Protestors could be seen burning tires, firing arrows and throwing objects at the riot and military police, who arrived at the scene soon after the start of the protest, using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the small crowd.

The bill, known as PL 490/2007, strips the environment and indigenous people ministries of some powers, weakening their oversight of environmental protections and the demarcation of indigenous lands. The bill will be up for a vote in Brazil’s lower house in the coming days.

Indigenous groups from across the country also planned protests in the capital Brasilia, where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is meeting with several other leaders from across South America.

. . .

Lula has promised to repair the damage to the Amazon caused by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, under whose presidency deforestation surged. Last month, Lula recognized six Indigenous territories, Reuters reports.

More:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/05/30/indigenous-groups-protest-brazil-bill-that-limits-land-recognition/