Bill approved by the legislators “takes away our right to live, ends the future of our children, indigenous peoples and forests,” says leader of the women’s movement Watatakalu Yawalapiti.
A bill that severely limits the demarcation of indigenous peoples’ lands, approved by Brazilian deputies, paves the way for genocide, accuse indigenous leaders, who are demanding President Lula da Silva’s veto if the bill is approved in the Senate.
“The approval of this bill violates our rights. All of us, indigenous peoples of Brazil, do not accept it.”Chief Raoni, 90, said in an interview with the AFP agency in Paris.
“This is genocide approved by the Chamber of Deputies. It takes away our right to live, it ruins the future of our children, indigenous peoples and forests.”lamented Watatakalu Yawalapiti, leader of the Xingu indigenous women’s movement.
On Tuesday, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, dominated by former head of state Jair Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, approved a bill limiting the demarcation of indigenous lands. A setback for the left-wing leader and Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had relaunched the policy of protecting indigenous peoples and the Amazon.
This text, which must be sent to the Senate, establishes that indigenous peoples only have the right to the lands they occupied at the time of the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution.
The House passed a rancher-sponsored legal thesis known as “time frame”before the rejection of the indigenous people, who argue that they did not occupy certain lands in 1988 because they were expelled over the centuries, mainly during the military dictatorship (1964-1985).
Brazil has a total of 764 indigenous territories, but around a third of them have not yet been demarcated, according to data from the National Indian Foundation.
In April, the government of Lula da Silva —which promised to prioritize the preservation of the environment, after four years marked by a sharp increase in deforestation under the government of Jair Bolsonaro— recognized six new territories.
“Killing the rights of indigenous people is also killing the life of the planet, because we are taking care of the forests”, argument Watatakalu Yawalapiti, calling on Lula da Silva to “oppose” this project.
As the world seeks to limit global warming, the demarcation of indigenous lands is a major obstacle to further deforestation in the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, scientists say.
On June 7, the Federal Supreme Court is also due to deliver its verdict on the “time frame,” in what is being described as the trial of the century for indigenous peoples and their lands.
“I ask for the union of all to save the forest. (…) We are protecting the forest for everyone.”urged Chef Tapi Yawalapiti, currently on a European tour with Chief Raoni and Watatakalu Yawalapiti to raise public awareness and funds for the Amazon.
The objective of the bill, supported mainly by legislators linked to agribusiness, is to “allow more deforestation, authorize the construction of railways, larger soybean plantations” and “produce more meat,” criticized Watatakalu Yawalapiti.
“Everything that happens is done on behalf of outsiders”, to produce for Europe and China, he denounced. The indigenous people called for a boycott of these products if the situation does not change. “What is the use of talking about climate change if we buy products that kill indigenous peoples and destroy the jungle?” he concluded.
Source: Observadora
