Indigenous people protest at the Presidential Palace.
Approximately 300 indigenous people protested in front of the main entrance of the Planalto Palace against Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) 215 and also against a decree from the Attorney General's Office; the indigenous people want to be received by President Dilma Rousseff, who traveled to Lima for a UNASUR meeting; as the indigenous people did not agree to meet, this Friday, with Minister Gilberto Carvalho, of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, no agreement was reached.
Heloisa Cristaldo
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Brasilia – The protest by indigenous people in front of the main entrance of the Planalto Palace ended without negotiation. The movement was demanding a meeting with President Dilma Rousseff to discuss indigenous issues.
The National Secretary for Social Articulation of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Paulo Maldo, proposed to the demonstrators a meeting with Minister Gilberto Carvalho, of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic and with the Minister of Justice, Eduardo Cardozo, at 10 am this Friday (14), so that the group's list of demands could be presented. The meeting was rejected by the demonstrators.
"We refuse to meet with Minister Gilberto Carvalho. We have met with him several times and never received a response. The movement wants Dilma to schedule a meeting with us to discuss the defense of indigenous peoples," explained one of the movement's coordinators, Sonia Guajajara.
According to the movement's organizers, the group brings together 800 indigenous leaders from 106 ethnic groups across five regions of the country. The group opposes Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) 215 and also Decree 303 of the Attorney General's Office (AGU).
According to one of the movement's representatives, Neguinho Tuká, the indigenous population was not consulted during the drafting of Constitutional Amendment Proposal 215 and fears losing their lands with the changes. The proposal transfers the power to decide on the demarcation of indigenous lands to the National Congress.
The indigenous people are also protesting against AGU Ordinance 303, which extends to all demarcation processes of indigenous lands the obligation to observe the 19 conditions imposed by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) for maintaining the demarcation of Raposa Serra do Sol.
Security was reinforced at the main entrance of the Planalto Palace with a group of Army police. The indigenous people claim they will return early tomorrow to resume the protest and reiterate their request for a meeting with President Dilma Rousseff.
On Tuesday (16), the same group occupied the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies to protest against PEC 215.
Editing: Fabio Massalli