Number 324, October 29, 1998.
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Our principal topics this week are:
HUMAN RIGHTS:
- The Law: protection or a threat?
BRAZIL'S NORTHEAST:
- Drought Sufferers Not Receiving Money Promised by the Government in
Alagoas
POLITICS:
- Election Results
HUMAN RIGHTS:
- The Law: protection or a threat?
There are laws which are invented and approved more to benefit some sectors
of society and the politics of neoliberalism than the indigenous peoples,
the people of Brasil. Here are two examples:
Heritage for sale
Congress approves a law to transfer the lands of the Union. Last May (98) a
provisional measure was made law giving powers to the Federal Government to
sell land of the Union in order to pay the External Debt. From what we
know only the Workers Party and one other deputy voted against this law.
It appears that the law includes the lands of Marinha, many parks including
those of the Indigenous peoples. All this land can be sold to foreign groups
to pay the crippling foreign debt. Who is it that threatens the National
Sovereignty?
Morat ria in the Environmental Legislation
With a stroke of the pen the President Fernando Henrique Cardoso overturned
the greatest environmental gain of Brasil in the 90s: the Law 9,605 of the
12 of Febrauary 1998. That Law against environmental crimes gave ample
powers to IBAMA (Brasilian Environmental Institute) to act in defense of
the environment. But on August the 7th 1998, the President Fernando
Henrique altered the situation with the Provisional Measure 1,710. With
this measure the president suspended for up to ten years the fines for
industrial pollutors. This measure is retrospective, pardoning fines
already meted out by IBAMA.
The Government justifies itÆs actions, saying the companies need time to
regular their situation. This law, however, has been discussed in Congress
these last 7 years and many foreign companies have deliberately adopted
other parameters as decided in their country of origin. The Green Party and
the Workers Party have placed an Action with the Supreme Federal Tribunal
disputing the constitutionality of the measure.
Experienced observers of Brasilian politics note that with companies
responsible for 20% of production in Brasil operating without the permission
of IBAMA (Brasilian Environmental Institute) and 4,000 fines issued in S o
Paulo alone since the passing of law 9,605 in February, the Provisional
measure 1,710 could represent a lot of funding for political campaigns!
Source: MENSAGEIRO (Internal Publication of the Missionary Indigenist
Council)
BRAZIL'S NORTHEAST:
- Drought Sufferers Not Receiving Money Promised by the Government in
Alagoas
As a way to help people affected by the drought in the Northeast, the
Brazilian government initiated a program which creates state-funded jobs.
The state government is responsible for 18.75% of the payments and the
federal government pays the rest, only after the state has paid their
share. In the Northeast state of Alagoas, 15,000 workers in this program
have not been paid for three months; another 35,000 have not been paid for
two months. ôWeÆre trying to release the money. IÆm going to meet with
the governor to see if the money is available. The payments were not made
because of financial difficulties,ö said Daniel Berard, the Secretary of
Planning for the State and the President of the Commision to Combat the
Drought in Alagoas The governor, Manoel Gomes de Barros (PTB), affirmed
that the 56,000 government workers use 88% of the taxes of the state.
Meanwhile, in Major Isidoro, Alagoas, inhabitants are plundering the cityÆs
only water truck which delivers water to 46 schools in the area. ôEven
though the students are without water to drink, I canÆt act against these
people. They are the very ones who should be getting paid by the
government for their work,ö said Mayor Adovaldo Albuquerque.
Many of the cities affected by the governmentÆs non-payment are on UNÆs
list of the worst cities in Brazil. Of the 50 cities on this list, 18 are
in Alagoas, which has an infant mortality rate of 120 per 1,000 live
births, a 65% illiteracy rate, and an average salary per person of US$30
per month.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
POLITICS:
- Election Results
The following were elected or re-elected as governor in their respective
states (following the governorÆs name is his party affiliation and
percentage of votes he won):
S o Paulo--Mario Covas, PSDB (54%); Rio de Janeiro--Garotinho, PDT (57%);
Minas Gerais--Itamar Franco, PMDB (57%); Rio Grande do Sul--Olivio Dutra,
PT (51%); Distrito Federal--Joaquim Roriz, PMDB (51%); Amapa--Jo o
Capiberibe, PSB (53%); Mato Grosso do Sul--Zeca do PT, PT (61%); Piaui--M o
Santo, PMDB (51%); Goias--Marconi Perillo, PSDB (53%); Rondonia--Jose
Bianco, PFL (53%); Roraima--Neudo Campas, PPB (54%); Sergipe--Albano
Franco, PSDB (54%); and Para--Almir Gabrie, PSDB (53%).
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
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