Brasília, Apr 6 (EFE).- The traditional annual encampment of thousands of Indigenous Peoples in Brasília began on Monday with criticism of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over what they consider the slow pace of ancestral land demarcation.
Amid traditional songs and dances, indigenous people from all over Brazil gathered at the Free Land Camp to convey their demands to the authorities.
“(The encampment) signifies an alliance among peoples; we stand firm in the defense of our rights,” declared Toya Manchineri, leader of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon (Coiab), in her welcome address.
Manchineri also highlighted the importance of ancestral peoples being “united” to face these challenges.
In a letter published Monday, the organizers acknowledged certain advances during President Lula’s administration, such as the increased presence of Indigenous people in leadership positions and actions to remove invaders from ancestral territories.
However, they say these measures “fall far short of what is needed” and point to the slowness of the executive branch’s land recognition processes, less than six months before presidential elections that could shift the balance of power.
“The timid demarcation of a few indigenous lands violates the political commitment to guarantee all our territories,” the letter states.
According to the organizers, this slowness has led to an increase in invasions, as well as acts of violence and attempts to exploit natural resources in regions inhabited by indigenous groups.
In this regard, they remind the government of its obligation to consult with indigenous peoples before undertaking major projects and demand “concrete action” for land regularization.
During the week-long camp, the indigenous people will discuss the greatest challenges they face, and on Thursday, they will participate in a march that will pass in front of the headquarters of the three branches of government, with this year’s slogan being “Demarcate, Lula: a sovereign Brazil is a demarcated and protected land.” EFE
jmc/mcd
![(FILE). A young garimperio (artisanal miner) shows a little clod of gold as he stands in the pit in which he works in a mine in Manica Province, Mozambique. Oct. 08, 2018 (issued Oct. 12, 2018). EPA/YESHIEL PANCHIA ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET[ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET]](https://i0.wp.com/efe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/rss-efe7529e321350dd6129975feffadb079d23bbd809bw.webp?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1)