Indian activists in Brazil launch protest against lands decision

Wednesday, April 17, 2013  

About 700 Indian activists are occupying the lower house of Brazilian Congress in a protest over a lands decision, the Associated Press reports.

The activists are opposing a constitutional amendment that would transfer demarcation authority of their lands from the executive branch to the Congress. They say they won't end their protest until Henrique Eduardo Alves, the leader of the lower house, reverses his decision to form a commission to deal with the amendment, the AP reported.

Demarcation of Indian lands is currently handled by Funai, the executive agency in charge of Indian affairs.

Get the Story:
Brazilian Indians occupy Congress to protest proposed constitutional amendment on land (AP 4/16)
Brazil's indigenous protest to defend ancestral lands (AFP 4/16)
Brazil Indian-farmer standoff intensifies, tribes storm Congress (The Buenos Aires Herald 4/17)