Number 377, December 3, 1999.
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In this week's issue:
>NEWS BRIEFS
- Involved with the masses and new partnerships, the citizenry combats hunger
-Government delays payments in program to eliminate child labor
-Argentina requests information about the "disappeared" in Brazil
- More conflicts over land in Parana
URGENT ACTION APPEAL
-Concern over land conflict in Parana
NEWS BRIEFS
- Involved with the masses and new partnerships, the citizenry combats hunger
The network, "World Day of Nutrition (October 16)" declared that there are already in existence sufficient resources to put an end to hunger in the next decade even with 800 million people suffering with hunger in the world. A network of 80 Brazilian organizations was formed last year, in partnership with the Executive Office of the Brazilian Forum of the assurance of Nutrition, in order to combat hunger in Brazil. This initiative is being organized internationally by the United Nations Organization for Agriculture and Distribution of Food. The objective of the network is to construct in each state of Brazil forums that will take on the battle against hunger in their respective regions. Two of these forums have already been established in the states of Minas Gerais and Alagoas. The forums have decided to prioritize infant malnutrition and the commercialization of genetically altered products as the most urgent issues to be dealt with in Brazil. Many agricultural experts and environmentalists have demonstrated that genetically altered products can often be harmful to the consumer and may potentially cause ecological disasters.
Brazilian states such as Minas Gerais, which are deprived of rain 8 months out of the year (at the least), have created partnerships between government entities and projects like the Children’s Pastoral (which is a project of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops). This pastoral project accompanies pregnant women and documents the level of malnutrition of children in the most marginalized areas of Brazil. The majority of the pastoral’s 136,000 volunteers are more often than not, women with very little literacy skills from very poor communities. Thirty-six children born (in their first year of life) out of 1,000 die every year from malnutrition in Brazil Many Brazilians, like the senator Marina Silva from the Worker’s Party (Acre), are calling for a "Social Budget" — a budget that would account for the social needs of the most marginalized citizens as a priority. Many Brazilians want to pay the social debts first instead of the external debt, focusing on education, healthcare, and income generating projects as budget priorities at a statewide level.
-Government delays payments in program to eliminate child labor
The federal government is not keeping its promises to pay parents to keep their children in school and out of work. In 8 of the 9 states where the program exists, the government has not made payments--in some states, the government has not paid since July. The program gives a monthly grant, which varies between $US7 and US$25, to needy families who often have to rely on their children’s labor to bring in resources for the survival of the family. It costs US$ 42 million per year, and was designed to benefit 130,000 families. It is considered by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso to be one of his successes in his social policies. In addition to the delayment of payments, critics of the program also say that the monthly allowance is not enough. "The amount is ridiculous," said Ande Franzini, the coordinator of the Commission for the Irradication of Child Labor in Para. "Hardly any of the kids have left [their jobs]."
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
November 28, 1999
-Argentina requests information about the "disappeared" in Brazil
The Argentinian Justice Department began an investigation of "disappeared" Argentinians in Brazil during the military dictatorship, especially in the latter part of the 70's. Claudio Bonadio, a federal Argentinian judge, sent a request to the Ministry of Justice here in Brazil asking for information, including details about the infamous Operation Condor in which there was an exchange of information on alleged subversives in Southern Latin American countries. Argentinian authorities are also traveling to Washington, D.C., to ask that files be opened concerning the disappearances.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
November 30, 1999
- Germany wants change in World Bank policies
Hans Dietrich Lehmann, a representative of Germany, which is the third biggest money source of the World bank, said this past week that he will use his influence to change the way the World Bank hands out money for projects. For Lehmann, the primary criteria for a project should be the participation of the local community in the design and implementation of the project. Lehmann made his comments during a recent UN conference held in Recife concerning combating desertification. "Its not worth it simply to give resources for constructions of dams. It is much better to invest in projects that have the initiative of the society," said Lehmann.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
December 1, 1999
- More conflicts over land in ParanaLast week, Sejup reported on an eviction of members of the MST (Movement of rural workers Without Land) in the state of Parana in which two men were wounded. On November 23, the same thing happened at another MST encampment: hooded men came in the middle of the night, shooting and threatening those who were encamped, burning their houses and property. This time though the eviction happened on a lot of land that had already been appropriated by the government, and the 16 families living on the land had already divided up the land. The Governor of the state, Jamie Lerner, has down nothing to stop the UDR (the group of land owners responsible for the evictions). If fact, an incident two days later clearly showed whose side Governor Lerner is on: he ordered a special operation to disperse a group of MSTers in another part of the state at 5 in the morning. Nine MSTers were arrested. The charges were: forming a gang, illegal possession of arms (machetes and hoes!), and not obeying a judicial order. Right now, there are 129 rural workers in prison since the beginning of this year.
In more news about land conflicts, the Brazilian Catholic Church’s Land Commission (CPT) reported the following story:
At 3:00 a.m. this morning, more than a thousand heavily armed police performed a "super operation" and removed workers and landless people who have for the past 6 months have been camped in front of the Iguacu Palace in that state capital of Parana. They were demanding solutions to the agrarian problem in the state. The people were removed from the plaza because the government thought they were destroying the aesthetics of the grounds. Many people were injured and terrorized. The police invaded the area while the men, women and children were sleeping, placing guns at their heads. They told the people to get up with their hands on their heads and walk in a single file to the square. The police filmed and photographed the landless and workers. Then they immediately separated the women and children from the men, everybody sitting on the ground with their hands on their heads. The people were put into busses and taken to unknown destinations in the interior of the state. All they took with them was what they were wearing. Many people were injured and wounded during the operation, including lawyers, journalists and leaders of the popular movements. The 800 people who were part of the encampment were literally dropped of the busses and abandoned by the side of the roads throughout the state. The information that CPT and MST is getting now is that many children and adolescents are lost and separated from their parents and there is no news of their whereabouts. The operation to clear the encampment was given 3 months ago by the request of Deputy Anybal Curo (who has since died). The person presently responsible is the president of the Legislative assembly of Parana.
Darci Frigo, a lawyer for the CPT was physically attacked, handcuffed and imprisoned during the operation. Another 7 landless were also imprisoned.. Dom Ladislau Biernaski, national vice-president of the CPT, was threatened and prevented from going near the square. Frigo is a member of the State Council for Human Rights. In her efforts to get information, she was handcuffed (this is against the rights of a professional), kicked, whipped, had her clothes torn and received various scratches and bruises. Frigo was released due to a journalist on the scene. However she was re-arrested and transferred to a jail in Curitiba. Due to pressure from other lawyers, Frigo was taken to the Medical Institute for her injures and examination.
Parana is characterized by tension in the struggle for land in Brazil: This year alone 129 landless people have been imprisoned, 29 assaulted and at least 2 thousand families have been involved one way another. There have been two assassinations of rural workers this year, three attempted assassinations, five people tortured, and one has been kidnaped. These facts show the gravity of the situation of the landless and rural workers. The CPT and the MST denounce with indignation the climate of fear and terror surrounding the state of Parana. Today's violence came after the landless and rural workers demanded effective agrarian reform and peace in the countryside. Today's violence confirms the illegal, inhuman and violent acts that the governor Jaime Lerner permits in relation to agrarian reform. We denounce Governor Jaime Lerner for permitting such violence to happen. We denounce his alignment with the large landowners who continue to persecute and demoralize the workers and their leaders. We reaffirm our support and struggle against the efforts that prevent the landless from having land in the state. We reaffirm the necessity to put pressure on the governor to bring an end to the misery of so many people.
URGENT ACTION APPEAL
Because of this very grave situation, we urgently need people and groups who are indignant with the violence and persecution of the landless and rural workers to put pressure on the governor Jaime Lerner and his secretary of Public Security.
Governador Jaime Lerner Telephone 55-41-254-2399 or e-mail: guelmann@pr.gov.br
Secretário de Segurança Pública, Dr. Cândido Manoel Martins de Oliveira Telephone 55-41-352-3070 ext. 23, or e-mail: sesp@pr.gov.br
Messages of support and solidarity to the workers and Lawyer Darci Frigo can be sent to e-mail: cptpr@softone.com.br
Source: Comissao Pastoral da Terra do Parana & Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra
November 27, 1999
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