Not up to Congress to recognize our land, indigenous protesters claim

Members of six indigenous ethnic groups took part in the

Published on 05/12/2014 - 16:27 By Marcelo Brandão reports from Agência Brasil - Brasília

Povos indígenas de Goiás e doTocantins em manifestação contra o projeto de lei que regulamenta o uso de agrotóxicos, na Confederação Nacional de Agricultura (Antônio Cruz/Agência Brasil)

The indigenous demonstrators protested against the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution 215, or PEC 215 in its Portuguese acronym, which transfers the right of recognizing indigenous territories from the Executive to the National Congress.Antonio Cruz/Agência Brasil

Arrows, tree trunk races, traditional dance and singing set the tone for the demonstration that gathered on Thursday (Dec 4) indigenous people from the Apinajé, Krahô, Kanela do Tocantins, Xerente, Krahô Kanela, and Karajá de Xambioá nations, all of whom from the northern state of Tocantins. In Brasília, at the Três Poderes Square, in front of the Palácio do Planalto, the seat of the Brazilian government, the indigenous demonstrators protested against the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution 215, or PEC 215 in its Portuguese acronym, which transfers the right of recognizing indigenous territories from the Executive to the National Congress.

“We're here to defend our land and [its] demarcation, and to say to President Dilma Rousseff that we don't need PEC 215. We've come here to tell it to the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. We'll fight until the end so that this PEC is shelved,” declared Wagner Krahô Kanela.

The indigenous demonstrators also protested against the appointment of Senator Kátia Abreu as minister of agriculture.  She is the president of the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), a member of the landowners' coalition at Congress and an advocate of agribusiness. A picture of Abreu and Rousseff was riddled with arrows during the protest.

“Senator Kátia Abreu wasn't elected with our vote. It's a shame to nominate her to the Ministry of Agriculture,” Wagner said. “Kátia Abreu's not the owner of the land. Aren't we,  indigenous people, the owners of the land? We need to live in peace,” concluded Gercina Krahô. Government officials stated that her appointment has not been confirmed yet.

The demarcation and recognition of indigenous areas lies under the power of the Executive Power. The process of recognition ends with a decree signed by the president.

Apart from transfering the prerogative of indigenous land recognition to Congress, PEC 215 also provides for the revision of territories already demarcated pending recognition. Another change would affect demarcation criteria and procedures, which would be governed by laws, not by decrees, as it is today.

PEC 215 is still under analysis at the Chamber of Deputies. A report favorable to the changes proposed by the PEC was brought forward on November 19 this year.


Translated by Fabrício Ferreira


Fonte: Not up to Congress to recognize our land, indigenous protesters claim

Edition: Armando Cardoso / Nira Foster

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