A Native protester is seen here with police in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Photo from Midia NINJA / Twitter

About 30 tribal activists clashed with police officers on Tuesday as they protested a bill that will change Indian land policy in Brazil.

The activists, representing several tribes, came to the capital of Brasilia with bows and arrows. They were trying to interrupt a meeting of the Brazilian Congress, where lawmakers are considering a bill that will give them the power to set aside Indian lands.

"By bringing the decision to demarcate lands to Congress, technical criteria will be replaced by political ones,” Adelar Cupinski, a legal adviser to the Indigenous Missionary Council, told Press TV. Authority to set aside Indian lands is currently exercised solely by the executive branch.

Four police officers were reportedly hurt in the clash. They used pepper spray to dispel the tribal activists, six of whom were arrested.

Get the Story:
Brazil Indians clash with police outside Congress (AP 12/16)
Indigenous Brazilians attack police with ARROWS as they storm Congress in angry dispute over new bill on land ownership (AP / The Daily Mail 12/16)
Brazil indigenous group clashes with police in Congress (BBC 12/16)
Indígenas são detidos em Brasília a caminho de reunião com Ministro da Justiça. PEC215 poderá ser votada amanhã [Article in Portuguese language] (NINJA 12/16)