BRAZIL’S National Indigenous Movement and the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) mounted demonstrations in a number of towns and cities on Thursday in protest at President Jair Bolsonaro’s attack on their land rights.

Demonstrations took place in 22 states. In the capital Brasilia protesters rallied outside the Environment Ministry calling for action against climate change and an end to deforestation.

Mr Bolsonaro’s first act in office was to strip the National Foundation of the Indigenous of its authority to designate indigenous territories and deny corporations permission to log, mine or otherwise exploit them, transferring those powers to the Agriculture Ministry which has close ties to big business.