Congress commission approves Bill 490, that opens indigenous lands to mining and halts demarcation

The Constitution and Justice Commission of the House of Representatives approved Bill 490/2007, which threatens the constitutional right of indigenous people to land. The vote happened under intense protests by the indigenous movement.  The proposal will now be voted by the House and, if approved, will be sent to the Federal Senate.

The bill represents a historic setback for the indigenous population by making the demarcation of lands much harder and exposing their territories to predatory enterprises, such as mining, construction of hydroelectric dams and opening of roads, making the people even more vulnerable to disease and violations of rights.

Since June 8, 850 demonstrators from 45 indigenous peoples have gathered in Brasilia in the “Rise for Earth” camp, which calls for the withdrawal of PL 490/2007 and other anti-indigenous measures from the Congressional agenda. A manifesto was launched on June 17 by the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil Network (Apib) reaffirming the “permanent state” of struggle against successive attacks on the constitutional rights of indigenous peoples.