Indigenous rights highlighted at central London protest
June 19, 2013
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The rights of Brazilian Indians were highlighted at a protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday.
Over 1,000 protestors attended to show their support for the demonstrations that have taken place in Brazil over the last two weeks, in which it is estimated that over 200,000 people have participated so far.
The protestors in London displayed placards with several demands including improvements in health and education, an end to corruption and violence and respect for Indigenous people’s rights.
One placard with the message ‘Indigenous Genocide’ featured photos of three Indians who have been killed in recent months in land conflicts in southern Brazil. They were Adenilson Munduruku, Oziel Gabriel Terena and Celso Rodrigues Guarani.
The Guarani Indians and other tribes are frequently victims of violence, as a result of their campaign to reoccupy their ancestral land.
Another placard with the words ‘Brazil: Save the Awá’ drew attention to the critical situation faced by Earth’s most threatened tribe.
One protestor displayed the message ‘The Brazilian Indians are the landowners, we’re the squatters’.
The protestors also criticized the large sums of money being spent in preparation for next year’s World Cup, whilst social problems are being swept to the side.
The wave of protests began in Brazil, against an increase in the cost of public transport in São Paulo, and generated attention following the police repression involved.
Thousands of Brazilian Indians have protested across the country in recent months, against a series of government projects which could seriously harm their lands and livelihoods.
