Highlights: In Brazil, deputies voted on Tuesday, May 30, a bill that limits the demarcation of indigenous lands. President Lula received eleven heads of state from the region, including the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, and the press reserved a volley of green wood for him. In Guatemala, 40 years in prison required against journalist José Ruben Zamora, founder of the daily El Periodico. In Haiti, the social program launched by the government has gone "awry," says FAO.

Press Review of the Americas

Headlines: In Brazil, a law limits the demarcation of indigenous lands

Protesters took to the streets of São Paulo and Brasilia against the proposed law, some holding signs like "Climate emergency: the answer is us," here in Brasilia on May 30, 2023. © Gustavo Moreno / AP

Text by: Christophe Paget Follow

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In Brazil, a slap in the face for President Lula and indigenous peoples: deputies voted on Tuesday, May 30, a bill that limits the demarcation of indigenous lands. If approved by the Senate, these lands would be limited "to those already occupied by indigenous peoples on October 5, 1988, the date of promulgation of the current Constitution," writes Carta Capital. However, Folha de São Paulo explains, "indigenous movements claim that in 1988 their territories had already been the target of centuries of violence and destruction of villages": they therefore believe that "according to the Constitution, they are entitled to their territories of origin, without being limited by a date".

Despite this, the law was passed, 283 votes in favor, against 155 against, points out Correio Braziliense. A vote immediately criticized by indigenous populations, who speak of massacre and genocide: "Every time we vote on a project like this, we accelerate genocide and territorial disputes," says an MP in Carta Capital. The "rural lobby", which defends agribusiness, speaks of a law that will give more security, precisely, to agribusiness, recalls Folha.

The Climate Observatory, which brings together 90 Brazilian civil society organizations, also issued a statement harshly criticizing the vote, Folha wrote: "In what depends on Arthur Lira (the right-wing speaker of the House) and his gang of chainsaws, the environment and indigenous rights will be wiped off the map over the next four years. ». Yet it is leftist President Lula who is in power, and the indigenous cause was one of his campaign themes, Estadão notes, but Lula's beginnings are difficult since, notes the newspaper, he has five defeats in Congress in five months in office. And on this precise point, notes the newspaper, its ministers do not all agree, since the Minister of Agriculture has defended the proposal.

Red carpet for Nicolas Maduro

Also in Brazil, President Lula received yesterday eleven heads of state from the region, including the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, and the press reserved a volley of green wood for him. "Lula shames Brazil," headlines Estadão, "in a way rarely seen in recent times – and the country has already been greatly embarrassed during the term of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro." The "demonstrative welcome he gave to the Venezuelan dictator (...) has crossed all lines," Globo said. According to Lula, Estadão writes, "the countless accusations of human rights violations, election manipulation and persecution of dissidents and journalists are nothing but a 'constructed narrative against Venezuela.'"

Lula wanted to "polish the biography of Nicolas Maduro," writes O Globo, and "the result could not have been more embarrassing," since he "had to listen, 'at home,' to the calls of the presidents of Uruguay and Chile." Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who is on the left, recalls Correio Braziliense, considered this issue of non-respect for human rights "is not a narrative construction. This is a serious reality."

In Guatemala, 40 years in prison required against journalist

In Guatemala, 40 years in prison required against journalist José Ruben Zamora, founder of the daily El Periodico. It is on the front page of La Hora, next to a photo of José Ruben Zamora where the journalist appears emaciated and tired. The special prosecutor against impunity has asked for maximum sentences for the three offenses he is accused of, notes the newspaper: money laundering, influence peddling and blackmail. José Ruben Zamora, reports La Hora, considered that he had "the impression of being in the hands of the Inquisition: if he confesses, it is because he is guilty, and if he does not confess, it is because 'the devil has given him the strength', but in any case 'he is guilty'".

Prensa Libre explains that if the journalist laughed at the statement of the prosecutor's request – 40 years in prison, "it is because he is 66 years old, that this is his first judgment and that he is treated as a serious offender". His newspaper, El Periodico, was created 27 years ago, and had to close its doors on May 15, after being subjected to "financial and judicial harassment" recalls La Hora.

In Haiti, "where has the social program launched by the government gone?"

The National reviews the FAO report that places Haiti among the countries most affected by acute food insecurity. And wonders "where has gone the social program launched by the Haitian government on April 13", which aimed, over six months, to alleviate the consequences of "this serious humanitarian crisis for the most destitute", thanks to a program of 21 billion gourdes (the equivalent of 140 million euros) from the International Monetary Fund and the government. But since its launch, "no news has been communicated about the implementation of the measures announced".

Headlines: In Brazil, a law limits the demarcation of indigenous lands

Headlines: In Brazil, a law limits the demarcation of indigenous lands

Red carpet for Nicolas Maduro

In Guatemala, 40 years in prison required against journalist

In Haiti, "where has the social program launched by the government gone?"

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