BRAZIL'S BOLSONARO GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW MINING ON INDIGENOUS LAN

BRAZIL'S BOLSONARO GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW MINING ON INDIGENOUS LANDS

The Brazilian minister of mines and energy stated that Brazil would open its indigenous territories to mining interests without the consent of the affected population.

SUE BRANFORD & MAURÍCIO TORRES 7 HOURS AGO

For many years, international and Brazilian mining companies have dreamed of getting access to the mineral wealth lying beneath indigenous lands. And finally, the government of Jair Bolsonaro seems determined to give them that opportunity. On March 4th, while Brazilians were distracted by Carnival celebrations, the new Minister of Mines and Energy Admiral Bento Albuquerque announced plans to permit mining on indigenous land.

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He also said that he intends to allow mining right up to Brazil's borders, abolishing the current 93-mile wide mining .

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BOLSONARO'S INDIGENOUS LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
The minister's announcement was not unexpected. Bolsonaro, an ex-army captain, has said that he admires the 1964–85 military dictatorship, and some are drawing parallels between Bolsonaro's policies and theirs regarding indigenous and quilombola communities.

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Back in 1976, Maurício Rangel Reis, interior minister in the military government of General Ernesto Geisel, expressed harsh views toward indigenous peoples: "We plan to reduce the number of Indians from 220,000 to 20,000 in 10 years," he declared. But the military didn't achieve this goal. Far from being eliminated, Brazil's indigenous numbers increased to their current 900,000 population.

More:
https://psmag.com/environment/bolsonaro-government-wants-to-open-indigenous-land-to-mining