Brasília, 6/27/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Some 50 Indian leaders are camped out in the nation's capital in front of the Ministry of Justice in a protest in favor of immediate demarcation of their lands (in 9 areas) and a definition on Indian policy for the southern region of the country. The Indians are from the Kaingang, Guarani and Xokleng tribes and are demanding audiences with the minister of Justice, Marcio Thomaz Bastos and president Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva.

Idalino Fernandes Kaingang, who represents a group of chiefs (caciques) from the state of Santa Catarina, fired off criticism at the government: They do not have a clear policy for the Indians." He also attacked the Indian Foundation (Funai), which is supposed to take care of Brazil's Indian problems, saying, "Funai does not understand anything about Indians." Kaingang concluded by saying that they had come to stay until they got what they wanted. "We want to return to our people with good news," he declared.

The Indians have prepared a document for president Lula which calls for an Indian policy that treats them with justice and dignity. "We have children suffering from hunger and dying because of malnutrition," said one of the chiefs, explaining that demarcation was necessary so they could have enough land, because their land was being invaded or destroyed. (AB)