Hosts of the 2014 World Cup react to threat of Maracanã stadium not being ready for June friendly with England
Brazilian riot police armed with batons, teargas and pepper spray have forcibly evicted an indigenous community from a dilapidated museum complex next to the Maracanã football stadium.
The forced relocation, which led to scuffles, arrests and accusations of brutality, comes amid growing pressure on the hosts of the next World Cup to accelerate preparations that have fallen far behind schedule. Renovation of the stadium, which will host next year's final, was supposed to have been completed at the end of last year, but there are doubts that it will be ready for a friendly between England and Brazil in June.
The museum has been the focus of a protracted legal battle between squatters, who claim the site should be used to promote indigenous culture, and the municipal authorities, who want to knock down a graffiti-covered eyesore and modernise the area before the world's attention moves to Rio de Janeiro.
"We were negotiating, and then the government resorted to force," said Urutau Guajajara, a bare-chested man wearing a feathered headdress who described himself as a professor of the Guajajara ethnic group. "The police were very violent."
"It was shocking," said Ingrid Paul, an Argentinian who has lived in the community for the past three weeks. "The police were obviously preparing for a fight. They came in with masks at 2:30am. We were all affected by the gas, even a three-year-old child."
After their eviction, some of the indigenous people were taken to temporary housing provided by the government. Others sang songs, smoked pipes and handed out leaflets declaring: "513 years of struggle: resist the expulsion of the multi-ethnic indigenous group of the Maracanã."
In the aftermath, police and TV helicopters buzzed overhead. Officers armed with automatic rifles cordoned off the area and several dozen police vehicles – including armoured personnel carriers – lined the streets.
The government says it is necessary to raze the building as part of the renovation of a rundown area that is supposed to be transformed into a sports and entertainment hub.
The authorities have promised to build a new Indian cultural centre that incorporates housing, though that won't be complete until the end of 2014.
Senior officials appear reluctant, however, to take responsibility for the evictions and demolition. Last October, Sergio Cabral, the governor of Rio de Janeiro, shifted the blame on the world football body, Fifa. "It's being demanded by Fifa and the World Cup organising committee. Long live democracy, but the building has no historical value. We're going to tear it down," he told reporters at the time. Fifa subsequently denied that it had ordered such a step.
Brazil is running out of time to prepare for the World Cup. Several stadiums are far behind schedule. The £300m renovation of the Maracanã was supposed to have been presented to Fifa last month, but – after storms and floods – the pitch was only laid last week, and the installation of seating and roofing has been postponed to 24 May, just nine days before the friendly with England.
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I would probably be a little afraid of that arrow
This may sound empty and retorical; If everyone unite in prayer and call on GOD with a common voice, he can turn a bad situation to a better situation, sometime even if we fail to realize it at the time the prayer is answered.
The worst thing that you can do to an opressor is trun them over to GOD for him to deal with.
just because some people squat in a building and call it home doesn't mean they have a right to be there
WHAT,S THE USE OF GOING TO SPACE WHEN WE CAN'T COEXIST HERE ON EARTH?
GET OVER IT PEOPLE ......!!!!!!!
5-08-13 To be, Use common cense if you want turn in to a better situation, let water calm an see your reflection before the time pass. Att; m-rabas.
world cup at all costs ha!? Taking the land of their people, disregarding their needs, given false commitments. The Brazil Government it's a big disappointment once again! Sell yourself, your family, your land, your water. You missing the chance to be the first country to be self sustainable and teach the world a thing our two. It's so sad to see all you have and what you do with it! Santa Ignorancia!
Who has a right to be where? Respect is in order here. My anscestors came from across the ocean and through massive violations of the human rights of thepeople who were here first gained control of the American continent. We still have a lot to learn from those who were here first. Time to start listening.
Unbelieveble . Brazil is building bad karma with this. The original nature people should be honored and protected .
Men, money,politics,....destroying for profit
Don't be afraid of the arrow.It cannot harm you.Look at the other side and see the violence the state's and police violence.These are the one's you should be afraid of!Solidarity to the indigenous!
fuck the police
Indigenous wisdom and wolves and sacred spaces cannot be replaced or 'relocated' ... a sports arena can. Why are people so ignorant and plain greedy and selfish? This is a loss for the whole planet and is just the tip of the tragic iceberg! My heart weeps, my soul cries out in solidarity and I am appalled and outraged at the stupidity involved in this situation. Power to the indigenous and wolves ... the Mother is precious and should be regarded with respect!! Thank you to those of you who are fighting this senseless and irreversible profit mongering. How can I help?!
I'm sure if it where u in that possition ur opinion would be very different.. U need to learn to be more humble in life..
The Olympics and World cup are being used to steal land from the people all over the world.
I always thought that Brazil is a very big land though there must be another piece of land in Brazil where they can build this stadium and avoid confrontation. There are things in this world called diplomacy, flexibility, compromise and respect of other peoples believes and needs. If you learn to speak with each other and to each other and don`t make decisions over the life of other people, there will be a possibility to come to a result that helps everybody. People have to learn that you get further with love and respect than with hate and a hammer, cause in the end we all have to share this earth and treat it well for the future of the next generations to come we only have one life and one earth and money won`t buy you anything in the afterlife
I always thought that Brazil is a very big land though there must be another piece of land in Brazil where they can build this stadium and avoid confrontation. There are things in this world called diplomacy, flexibility, compromise and respect of other peoples believes and needs. If you learn to speak with each other and to each other and don`t make decisions over the life of other people, there will be a possibility to come to a result that helps everybody. People have to learn that you get further with love and respect than with hate and a hammer, cause in the end we all have to share this earth and treat it well for the future of the next generations to come we only have one life and one earth and money won`t buy you anything in the afterlife
F**k the police!!!
F**ck the World Cup. Who cares...
Our Indigenous People of the world need acceptance and recognition for their acceptance for parasites to take over their land. IDLE NO MORE!!!!!
Forcing people out there homes, is horrible. Just to build a stadium. F&*King society now a days.
I am brazilian born in Rio de Janeiro and I can talk the truth here. Yes, this building belongs to the Indians. The government of Rio never reformed the building because he knew that one day he could do what he is doing today. I am military of the Foreign Legion, my grandmother was a descendant of brazilian indians (her name was "Iracema"). All agreements with indigenous communities have been broken over the years .. in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
From today I will fight the evil of our South Africa's ties with Brazil. Our president has this alliance called BRIC (Brazil, India, Russia and China). Aluta Continua
Deon Sydney !Khari!as Arends
Khoi-Khoi / Hoengeyqua aboriginal peoples
South Africa
Also I am sure you did not read the entire story...because these people have been fucked over time and time again....brutally murdered...tortured and taken advantage of....or did you forget that this land originally belonged to them??? Wake up!