Racism and intolerance at the time of Bolsonaro | What …

Hundreds of indigenous activists arrived in Brasilia yesterday with their camp "Tierra Libre" to protest against the policies of Jair Bolsonaro's far-right government. Although the camp is held since 2004 this year has a special dye that aims to denounce the repudiated measures of the new president in environmental matters. "The year 2019 began in a very serious context.There has been a series of attacks and invasions articulated on indigenous lands, as well as persecutions and expressions of racism and racism. intolerance towards indigenous peoples, "denounces the statement issued by the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib).

In addition to targeting the management of the Brazilian environment, Apib expressed its deep rejection of the changes in the administrative structure of the official bodies dedicated to the indigenous issue. Among them, the organization mentioned the transfer of the National Funai Foundation of the Ministry of Justice to the new office of the family, women and human rights, by the evangelical pastor Damares Alves. In addition, Apib found it "serious" that Funai ceased to be responsible for the demarcation of new indigenous lands, which, along with Bolsonaro, pbaded into the hands of the Ministry of the Interior. Agriculture, whose owner, Tereza Cristina Correa, has close ties with the country's leading businessmen. ground.

"We came here for an important cause, it was very difficult for us and our ancestors to conquer these rights and they hurt us little by little, which is why we came here to ask for more respect," he said. Camila Silveiro, 22-year-old girl and high school student of the Kaingang ethnic group, located in the state of Paraná (south of the country). "Since Bolsonaro took office, the government has attacked indigenous peoples in all their rights and among them in education," said Luana Kumaruara, 33, referring to the statement made by the government. Former Minister of Education Bolsonaro This is not for everyone.

Despite the deployment of the indigenous community in the esplanade of the ministries, which will last until tomorrow, the government has listened to us and, on the contrary, has responded by putting an elite body dedicated to the fight against disorders on the public road. The decision was discussed by the head of the Institutional Security Cabinet, who defended it in the name of "the need to preserve public order and the security of people and public property". In addition, General Augusto Heleno Ribeiro admitted that the decree was intended to discourage such events. "They do not serve much," he said.

However, the indigenous organization claims to have guaranteed the peaceful nature of its movement. "We did not come to confront anyone, but to defend the indigenous peoples, their rights and the Amazon," Lindomar Terena, one of the leaders of the country, told reporters. APIB. Terena said that indigenous peoples, even by peaceful means, would not back down and stay away. "We will fight for our rights and our territories," he said.

But this is not the first time that the Bolsonaro government has been protesting against the rights of the aboriginal community. On several occasions, for example, the head of government has declared himself in favor of the development of agribusiness. In addition, Bolsonaro questioned last week the organization of the camp. "There will be a big meeting of indigenous people next week, 10,000 aboriginals are expected here in Brasilia, and who will pay the bill for the 10,000 Indians who will come?", Said the president at a meeting. live broadcast on Facebook. The indigenous community, however, immediately denied this information and badured that the initiative was funded by its own fundraising campaigns.

In the same queue, a few days after arriving at Plbadto Palace, Bolsonaro hinted that he wanted to see the Indians in the city. "Why keep isolated indigenous people on reserves, like animals in a zoo? They want to evolve, they want doctors, dentists, Internet access, air travel," he said. declared.

Although the Brazilian constitution states that these peoples have exclusive usufruct rights over the lands they occupy, their territories have been affected last time by illegal logging and expansion. livestock, activities that gradually expel their lands.

During the three days they will remain in Brasilia, the leaders of the movement will hold hearings with representatives of the Parliament and the judiciary, as well as that they may be received by General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, Minister of the Government Secretariat, the latest information has not yet been officially confirmed.