Brazilian President
Insists On Creation of
Indigenous Reservation
Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva
said Friday he insists
on the creation of
Raposa Serra do Sol
reservation in Roraima
state despite the
supreme court's
suspension of removal of
rice farmers from the
area, local media
reported.
In a meeting with
indigenous leaders in
the government seat
Palacio do Planalto in
the capital city
Brasilia, Lula
reinforced his support
to the process of
homologation of the 1.7
million-hectare reserve
which was initiated
three years ago.
The Brazilian Federal
Supreme Court Thursday
stopped an operation by
the federal police aimed
to remove rice farmers
exploiting the land that
are allegedly within the
reservation.
The court ministers
regarded the creation of
the reservation as a
threat to Brazil's
sovereignty, as it is
located too close to the
country's northern
border.
Brazilian Justice
Minister Tarso Genro
said a "wrong concept"
led the supreme court to
make the decision,
adding that all
indigenous reservations
remain under the federal
government's
jurisdiction.
A public debate on the
issue was launched after
Army General Heleno
Ribeiro Pereira said
Wednesday that the
creation of indigenous
reservations near the
borders with other
countries was a
"menace," and classified
the government's
indigenous policy as
"chaotic".
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