São Paulo

President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) said on Thursday (20) in São Paulo that he will take on the burden of demarcating indigenous territories.

"It's me who demarcates indigenous land! Not the minster. I am the boss. In this question, among many others. I am a president who takes on burdens and the bonuses. "

(Brasília - DF, 17/05/2019) President Jair Bolsonaro during a meeting with Luiz Antônio Nabhan Garcia, Special Secretary for Land Matters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply Foto: Carolina Antunes/PR

A day earlier, the president had issued a new interim measure that reverses Congress' May ruling returns the task of demarcating indigenous lands to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Bolsonaro said again that he wants to reintegrate the Indians into society. "Does anyone think that a region greater than the Southeast is no longer enough for them? Do we want to keep holding the Indian in his reserves as if they were prehistoric men?"

One hundred twelve indigenous lands were awaiting studies at Funai (National Indian Foundation) for demarcation, and another 42 had already been identified and delimited, awaiting only the government's decision to demarcate it.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

Read the article in the original language