Brazil Indigenous clash with police in land rights protest
Apr 26, 2017 16:04 IST
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Brazilian Indians take part in a demonstration against the violation of indigenous people's rights, in Brasilia, Brazil. Brazilian military police in front of Congress hurled tear gas at thousands of indigenous protesters, who responded by throwing spears and shooting arrows as a peaceful demonstration turned into chaos. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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Brazilian Indians from diverse ethnic groups clash with police during their annual march for their rights. There were no reports of any injuries on either side. Police said protesters got too close to a large fountain of water on the esplanade in front of Congress in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital. (Evaristo SA/AFP)
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Demonstrators denied that, saying police were just looking for an excuse to remove them. They said that police had agreed the protesters could come close to the fountain and that the march was peaceful. (Evaristo SA/AFP)
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Brazil, Latin America’s largest nation, is home to numerous tribes, many of which live in the Amazon region. (Gregg Newton/REUTERS)
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Clashes with ranchers, logging companies and other businesses operating near or on their lands are common. (Gregg Newton/REUTERS)
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However, indigenous leaders say the violence has gotten worse in the last year amid Brazil’s economic crisis. (Gregg Newton/REUTERS)
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They have called for a campout in front of Congress all week to lodge a long list of complaints. (Gregg Newton/REUTERS)
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They claim the government of President Michel Temer is working to roll back protections in various parts of the Amazon and allowing ranchers and other big-money interests to steal their lands. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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The demonstration was peaceful until police blocked some of the indigenous peoplefrom climbing a ramp that led into the congressional building, according to a Reuters photographer on the scene. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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The clashes ended around dusk. Some indigenous people suffered light injuries. There was no immediate word whether any officers were hurt. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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Dozens of indigenous people are killed each year in Brazil in fights with farmers and ranchers over land, often in the relatively lawless Amazon region, where hired gunmen have been used to push the indigenous off resource-rich reserves. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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Sonia Guajajara, a coordinator for the march, said some 4,000 indigenous people and supporters took part in the protest. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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Riot police fire tear gas toward brazilian Indians. It focused on legislation that would give the last word on deciding land boundaries for indigenous reservations to Congress, where a powerful farm lobby holds sway. Currently, Brazil’s president retains the power to set such boundaries. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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A police spokesman said the marchers went beyond the agreed point and invaded congressional grounds, requiring the use of force to keep them from entering the building. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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A Brazilian Indian seen wearing Lionel Messi jersey as he takes part in a demonstration. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
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He said an arrow struck a police bag but no officers were hurt. (Ueslei Marcelino/REUTERS)
