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A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 31 OcTOber 2019
Right-wing Brazil president gives fiery Saudi Arabia speech

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia scribed criticism raised
(AP) — Brazil's president against him as "fake news,"
launched a fiery defense channeling a common re-
of his far-right government frain by Trump, who faces
on Wednesday during a a spiraling impeachment
visit to Saudi Arabia, blast- investigation by Congress.
ing international criticism of The Amazon criticism in
his handling of blazes this particular drew anger from
summer in the Amazon that the Brazilian leader in his
drew worldwide attention speech at the investment
over global warming fears. summit, which has so far
Speaking before the Future been consumed by a pos-
Investment Initiative forum sible initial public offering of
in Riyadh, Jair Bolsonaro the kingdom's state-run oil
criticized French President behemoth Saudi Aramco.
Emmanuel Macron, with- "The Amazon region be-
out mentioning his name, longs to us," Bolsonaro said
while at the same time at one point. He added
praising both Saudi Crown that Amazonian farmers
Prince Mohammed bin "no longer want to be treat-
Salman and President Don- ed consistently as if they
ald Trump. are cave men or women or
Bolsonaro described his prehistoric human beings."
birth, life and election last Scientists say the vast rain-
year as a "miracle" after sur- forest is a bulwark against
viving being stabbed in an Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, global warming as its lush
assassination attempt dur- Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. vegetation absorbs heat-
ing his campaign, which Associated Press trapping carbon dioxide
focused on anti-corruption. from the atmosphere.
"When I took office, the through an interpreter. However, human rights ac- initiatives and blocking the The moisture given off by
country was virtually de- "The Brazilian people have tivists have accused Bol- prosecution of groups that its trees also affects rain-
stroyed economically and placed their bets on us. sonaro of giving a green caused fires in the Amazon fall patterns and climate
ethically and morally de- They have given us a vote light to illegal police killings, this year. across South America and
stroyed," Bolsonaro said of confidence." undermining anti-torture Bolsonaro repeatedly de- beyond.q

Slaying of 5 indigenous leaders shocks Colombians

By CHRISTIAN ESCOBAR peace accord as illegal
MORA armed groups and dissi-
TACUEYO, Colombia (AP) dents seek to exert control
— President Ivan Duque over for former rebel territo-
traveled Wednesday to ry and lucrative drug routes.
a conflict-ridden zone in Among those killed were 14
Colombia's southwest to members of tribes in Cau-
oversee a military offensive ca state, where Tuesday's
aimed at hunting down massacre took place. It is
a band of suspected ren- one of Colombia's fastest-
egade rebels blamed for growing areas for cocaine
the killing of five indigenous production, responsible
leaders. for about 10% of all illegal
The five people from the crops produced across the
Tacueyo reservation were country last year, accord-
killed late Tuesday when ing to the United Nations.
their caravan of armored "When will the massacre
SUVs was ambushed by end?" the National Indig-
gunmen the government enous Organization of Co-
says belong to a faction lombia lamented on Twit-
of Revolutionary Armed ter as news of the attack
Forces of Colombia that re- spread.
fused to accept the larger People gather around a car riddled by bullets on the road leading to Tacueyo, in southwest Co- An initial investigation
rebel group's peace treaty lombia, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. suggested the massacre
with the government. Associated Press came in retaliation for the
Among those killed was capture of three members
Cristina Bautista, the top injured. darity barely registered decades-long conflict be- of a residual FARC front by
authority and spiritual lead- Duque immediately con- with indigenous leaders, tween leftist rebels, right- members of the indigenous
er of the semi-autonomous demned the "assassination" who have repeatedly wing paramilitaries and guard unit, community
reservation in southwestern and ordered his military to condemned the govern- state security forces. leaders who mete out jus-
Colombia. Six other people step up operations in the ment for standing by as Dozens of indigenous and tice in their territories. Killed
were injured as the gun- area to hunt down the as- a "genocide" takes place social leaders have been alongside Batista were four
men continued to fire at an sailants. in communities caught in killed in the aftermath of members of the indigenous
ambulance tending to the But his expressions of soli- the crossfire of Colombia's Colombia's historic 2016 guard.q