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Bolsonaro undermines minority people's rights in first acts as Brazil's president

JAIR BOLSONARO used his first 24 hours as Brazilian president to undermine the rights of his country’s minorities. 

The far-right leader issued an executive order yesterday transferring the responsibilities for delineating indigenous lands — as well as those held by the descendants of former slaves — from the Justice Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry.

“Less than one million people live in those places isolated from the real Brazil,” Mr Bolsonaro tweeted. 

“They are explored and manipulated by non-profits. Together we will integrate those citizens and give value to all Brazilians.”

The decree, which will expire in 120 days if not ratified by Congress, strips power away from indigenous affairs agency the National Indian Foundation (Funai) in favour of a ministry headed by agribusiness caucus member Tereza Cristina. 

Funai previously oversaw the healthcare and housing requirements of the country’s estimated 900,000-strong indigenous population, but Mr Bolonaro’s order transferred those responsibilities to the newly created Ministry for Family, Women and Human Rights, headed by the “cultural Marxist” conspiracy theorist Damares Alves.

It is estimated that 11 million people lived in over 2,000 tribes in what we now call Brazil prior to colonisation by European settlers in the 1500s. 

Today there are around 240 tribes left, making up just 0.4 per cent of the population, according to international indigenous rights advocacy organisation Survival International. 

Human rights group the Association of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil signalled its defiance of the new government in a statement today, saying: “For our right to exist … we won’t retreat. We will denounce this government all around the world.”

The LGBT community also saw its rights come under threat yesterday, as the president – a self-described “proud homophobe” who once said he would prefer a “dead son to a gay son” – removed LGBT issues from consideration at the new Human Rights Ministry.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s capitalists reacted happily, with Sao Paulo’s stock market jumping 3.56 per cent as the cabinet reiterated its support for the privatisation of publicly owned companies and services.

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