Bolsonaro promotes “time frame” thesis, says creating indigenous reserves is detrimental to agribusiness

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Signaling support for agribusiness, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro drew attention to the Federal Supreme Court’s (STF) judgment on the “marco temporal” (“time frame”) issue for the demarcation of indigenous lands.

In an alarmist tone, the president said during a ceremony at the Planalto Palace on Thursday, September 2, that rural properties could be “destroyed” to be converted into indigenous reserves, and thus the country would lose its leading role in food production.

“We are experiencing a difficult moment today in the Supreme Court also about the ‘marco temporal’, according to the decision that may come out in the next few days,” said Bolsonaro, addressing the cabinet. “I don’t know what we will do about agribusiness.”

The “marco temporal” thesis provides that indigenous people are only entitled to define as their traditional lands those they actually occupied on October 5, 1988, the date the new Constitution was promulgated. The proposal is endorsed by the rural caucus in Congress and by agribusiness representatives.

“Today, for every 5 people fed in the world, 1 meal comes from Brazil. If this is passed, for every 15 meals, only 1 will come from Brazil. We will have inflation, food shortages, farms simply being destroyed to become reserves, others may not be productive,” Bolsonaro argued.

For Bolsonaro, a decision in favor of indigenous demarcation would have repercussions throughout the country. He said there is a risk that an area the size of the South region will be converted into an indigenous reserve. “Just consider the Supreme Court’s responsibility,” he said at the launching ceremony of the “Setembro Ferroviário.”