Re: “Brazil’s Indigenous, Police Clash in Protest”

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to submit the following letter in response to your May 27 article, “Brazil’s Indigenous, Police Clash in Protest.”

The article details the unfolding current situation in Brazil concerning unanticipated high World Cup costs, and the subsequent protests led by various groups. On May 27, indigenous protestors clashed with the police over Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup at the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasília. Violence broke out, with rubber bullets and tear gas being fired, resulting in the cancellation of a scheduled trophy exhibition. Indigenous activists are calling for the longstanding court battle over the demarcation of their territories to be resolved, as well as lamenting the lack of resources that are available to protect their registered areas. [1] Nevertheless, the article fails to address other groups and factors involved in protests across Brazil. Landless workers joined the demonstration demanding welfare payments and social housing for the lowest-paid workers. Furthermore, many workers are angered at the forced displacement from their homes to make way for World Cup-related projects. Coverage of the present disputes should emphasize the peoples’ bitterness over neglect of the poor’s concerns that will likely endure long after the World Cup.

Sincerely,

Malavika Krishnan, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs

In response to Anchor Daily News article “Brazil’s Indigenous, Police Clash in Protest.”

Please accept this article as a free contribution from COHA, but if re-posting, please afford authorial and institutional attribution. Exclusive rights can be negotiated. For additional news and analysis on Latin America, please go to: LatinNews.com and Rights Action.

[1]http://latinnews.com/component/k2/item/60775.html?full=true&period=May+2014&archive=3&cat_id=794914%3Alandless-workers-indigenous-march-on-braslia