Brazilian police fired tear gas Tuesday to break up a protest by bow-and-arrow wielding indigenous chiefs who joined forces with anti-World Cup demonstrators to condemn the money spent on the tournament.
Wearing traditional clothing including feather headdresses and face paint, about 500 chiefs mainly from the Amazon basin joined another 500 protesters rallying for various social causes in Brasilia’s government square and began marching toward the capital’s World Cup stadium.
As mounted police moved to block the march, some of the indigenous demonstrators rushed their horses and fired arrows in their direction.
A policeman was hit in the leg by an arrow and was operated on to remove it.
Globo TV showed images of a police motorcycle that had also been peppered with arrows.
Some of the indigenous protesters could be seen throwing stones at some of the 700 police encircling the stadium. Protesters also blocked streets around the government plaza, where the congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court are located.
Earlier, the aboriginal leaders climbed a ramp onto the roof of the congress building in a protest they said was aimed at protecting their rights.
The protest, which brought together 100 ethnic groups from across Brazil, included Kayapo chief Raoni, an 84-year-old leader famous for fighting to protect the Amazon rainforest alongside pop music star Sting.
“Climbing onto the congress building was an act of bravery, it shows we’re warriors who defend our rights,” said Tamalui Kuikuru, an indigenous leader from the Xingu region in the western state of Mato Grosso.
“Who is the Cup for? Not us!” shouted demonstrators. “I don’t want the Cup, I want money for health and education.”