“It’s as if you sent a message that environmental crime pays.”

Brazil’s President Michel Temer surprised many on Monday when he vetoed contentious legislation that would have opened up vast tracts of legally-protected Amazonian forests to land grabbing, deforestation, agribusiness, and mining.

While the vetoes seemed a concession to demands from his Environmental Minister and a coalition of environmental and human rights organizations, they now appear to be mere greenwash of the government’s anti-environment agenda and and an attempt distract the public from its alarming assault on the Amazon.

That same day, the administration announced that it will introduce a new bill for a fast-tracked congressional vote that essentially resurrects the legislation the president just vetoed.