Brazil: Thousands of Indigenous people protest against latifundium and criticize the false left
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a report published by A Nova Democracia (AND). On Monday, April 14, we reported on the repression that occurred on April 10, which is mentioned in this article:
Indigenous people close ATL with a promise to struggle against the far right and they criticize the false left.
“[In the face of] a global and national scenario marked by the advance of the far right and systematic attacks on our rights, we reaffirm the importance of resistance and collective struggle,” wrote the Indigenous peoples who signed the final letter of the 21st edition of the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL).
The event brought together around 8,000 Indigenous people from 150 ethnic groups across Brazil and concluded last Friday (April 11). In the letter, the organizations also criticized the lack of a land demarcation policy by the false left government and the advancement of reactionary laws in the National Congress and the Supreme Federal Court (STF).
The “Temporary Framework” law was a central objective for the Indigenous people. They demanded the repeal of Law 14,701, defending that also lands occupied since 1988 can be demarcated, and the end of the conciliation table in the STF.
According to the document this measure represents a new attack on their fundamental rights, with the participation of the National Congress and the federal government themselves who still defend the continuation of the commission. “We will not accept maneuvers that weaken our rights,” the statement asserts.
Demoralized Government
Speaking of the federal government, Luiz Inácio (PT) also received harsh criticism. The president was condemned for failing to fulfill his campaign promise to demarcate Indigenous lands (TIs). This was the first time that the president did not attend the ATL, did not meet with leaders at the Palácio do Planalto, and did not demarcate any TI’s during the event.
But things got worse for the government when thousands of protesting Indigenous people were harshly repressed on April 10 by the Military and Legislative police.
The incident was reported on the same day, April 10, by various organizations and was highlighted in the final letter. “The security forces, which should protect us, are the same ones that attack us in our territories,” the letter states.
The document was signed by the Articulations of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), from the Southeast Region (Arpinsudeste), the South Region (Arpinsul), the Northeast, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo (Apoinme), by the Guarani Yvyrupa Commission, the Terena People’s Council, the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab), and the Great Assembly of the Guarani Kaiowá People (Aty Guasu).
