Brazilian lawmakers approved a proposal that would limit Indigenous land rights and environmental protections.
Background: The law is expected to pass the Senate, limiting the creation of new Indigenous reserves to lands occupied by native people by 1988.
* This date coincides with Brazil’s most recent constitution.
Protests: Indigenous leaders blocked a major highway in response, holding signs stating “we existed before 1988.”
* They clashed with police, who dispersed the crowd with water cannons and tear gas.
Opponents’ viewpoint: Critics argue that many tribes were expelled from their lands during the military dictatorship and had not returned until years after 1988.
* There are 764 Indigenous territories in Brazil, but over 300 are not officially demarcated and remain in legal limbo.
What to watch: The agriculture lobby, which made significant gains in recent elections, supports the bill, and their strong political backing in the Senate could potentially override a presidential veto.
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