Agricultural bench criticizes PGR opinion against time frame

The Parliamentary Agricultural Front (FPA) criticized this Friday (12) the opinion of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) which defended the suspension of sections of the law that establishes a time frame for the demarcation of indigenous lands. The rule was approved by Congress last year. The time frame thesis establishes that only lands that were already occupied by indigenous people on the date of promulgation of the current Constitution, on October 5, 1988, can be demarcated.

For the agricultural bench, the PGR “is being used to interfere in legislation approved, democratically, by a large majority in the National Congress”. The statement forwarded to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) was signed by the Attorney General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet. The STF analyzes a request from the Xokleng Indigenous People, from Santa Catarina, to suspend the application of the time frame.

In a note, the FPA pointed out that the Attorney General’s opinion “discredits the appropriate legislative constitutional process and opts for a position of tension between the Powers”.

“It is important and necessary to highlight that the Legislative Branch is responsible for Brazilian legislation. The balance and synergy between the Powers of the Republic is non-negotiable and must be preserved as a fundamental tower of Brazilian democracy”, said the FPA. In the demonstration, Gonete pointed out that at least 17 articles of the new law must be considered unconstitutional, including the time frame itself.

“The rural population cannot be penalized with the expropriation of their lands, without any compensation or legal security guaranteed by the Brazilian State. It affects investments, jobs and peace in the countryside. The FPA reinforces that it is not contrary to indigenous rights, but understands that one right does not override the other and all Brazilians are equal before the Constitution of the Republic”, stated the agricultural bench.