At least 118 indigenous people assassinated in Brazil in 2016 – Indigenous groups clash with police in Congress
5 October 2017 (Telesur) – Brazil’s Indigenous Missionary Council, CIMI, says at least 118 Indigenous people were killed in the country last year.
“One of the focal points of the political setbacks that are pounding most of Brazilians has been the appropriation of the ancestral lands belonging to indigenous peoples,” stated the organization.
The 2016 report, presented by CIMI representatives at a news conference, said measures adopted by President Michel Temer’s government have considerably reduced the size of Indigenous reserves.
The CIMI also denounced the poor quality of health services for Indigenous peoples, especially children.
A total of 735 children below 5 years of age living on Indigenous territory died in 2016 because of the lack of medical facilities — 599 died in 2015 for the same reasons. […]
It also detailed 59 cases of land invasion and deforestation across the country, illegally carried out by entrepreneurs from the forestry industry, despite the fact that the lands were designated as natural reserves. [more]
118 Indigenous People Assassinated in Brazil Last Year
SAO PAULO, 18 October 2017 (Associated Press) – Indigenous groups have clashed with congressional police officers at a public hearing in Brazil’s capital on agricultural projects on indigenous lands.
The lower house Chamber of Deputies said in a statement the clash broke out Wednesday when some indigenous people were barred from entering the room where the audience was being held because of limited space.
Video footage posted by the G1 news portal showed protesters smashing glass doors and windows with rocks and pieces of wood. Police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd of about 100 protesters.
The Indigenous Missionary Council, a rights group linked to the Catholic Church, said four members of the indigenous groups were taken into custody.
There were no reports of injuries.
