Indigenous protesters against change in demarcation law block São Paulo highway

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A protest of indigenous leaders completely blocked the lanes of the Rodovia dos Bandeirantes expressway heading towards the capital city, at kilometer 21 on Friday morning, reports the portal “G1”.

According to the report, the protesters are against the approval of Bill 490 of 2007, which provides for changes in recognition of land demarcations and access to isolated peoples. The proposal has been the target of criticism and protests for more than a decade.

According to the website, indigenous peoples also oppose the appointment of Joaquim Alvaro Pereira Leite as Environment Minister following the departure of Ricardo Salles. Pereira Leite belongs to a traditional family of coffee farmers from São Paulo who are in a legal dispute over a piece of indigenous land, Jaraguá, in the north of the city of São Paulo.

The action is organized by Guarani communities in São Paulo. It is part of the “Levante Pela Terra” movement, which began on June 8 with an encampment on the Ministry Esplanade in Brasilia.

In recent days there have been several protests in front of the Chamber of Deputies since the bill was placed on the agenda of the Constitutional and Judicial Committee (CCJ).

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