!!!URGENT ALERT!!!
BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT WEAKENS PROTECTION
OF INDIAN LANDS
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Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso today announced
changes in the decree 22/91 regarding demarcation and protection
of Indian lands in Brazil. Indigenous peoples organizations
and human rights groups fear that the president's decision
will make it more difficult to create indigenous reserves,
and will conflicts involving Indian territories.
The president's decision will make it easier for economic
interests to bring cases challenging demarcation of Indian lands.
While the president also announced the legalization of 17 areas,
only those areas which have received final registration
are exempt from challenges. These include some 247 of
the total of 554 Indian areas identified in the country.