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APRIL 25, 2000

The Roman Catholic Church's Indigenous Missionary Council will request a special meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) in October to complain about the clash between Indian protestors and riot troopers this past Saturday in Porto Seguro, Brazil.

A group of approximately 2,000 Indians from throughout Brazil gathered at the port where navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral first landed 500 years ago. They carried signed reading "500 years of resistance" and "Who said Brazil was discovered?"

Police used clubs, tear gas, and rubber bullets to break up the protesters and detained 141, including 30 Catholic missionaries. All were later released.

Unofficial reports claimed 15 injured, mostly Indians.

On Sunday, the president of the country's Indian Affairs Bureau said he would resign saying he could not work for a government "that resorts to physical violence against Indians." The government decided to fire him before he had a chance to make his resignation official.

Federal officials promised to investigate the actions of the police.

Staff and news wires contributed to this report.

Related stories:
Indians, police clash (Global 4/24)
Indians see no reason to celebrate (Global 4/21)