Number 400, May 19, 2000.
Visit our home page: http://www.oneworld.org/sejup/
In this week's issue:
>NEWS BRIEFS
- Governor ordered to pay damages to Ashaninka people
- Studies reveal racism
- Tests demonstrate Parana MST member shot by police in conflict
- Government finally submits official document concerning torture
- Documents link Brazil to Operation Condor
- Protesters conflict with police in financial center
>CHURCH ISSUES
- CNBB reaffirms its commitment to indigenous peoples
>REQUEST FROM FRIENDS OF THE MST
>URGENT ACTION
- Brazil Ranchers Call for More Destruction - Key Vote in Congress May 24
NEWS BRIEFS
- Governor ordered to pay damages to Ashaninka people
The former governor of Acre, Orleir Cameli, was sentenced to pay R$ 10 million in damages to the Ashaninka-Kampa who live by the Amônea river for material and moral damages caused by the illegal extraction of hardwood (mohagony and cedar) in their area between 1981 and 1987. The sentence, issued by the judge of the 1st Civil Court of Acre, David Wilson Abreu Pardo, ruled in favor of the Public Civil Action filed in 1996 by attorney general Luiz Francisco Fernandes de Souza and also condemned a company owed by Cameli’s family, Marmud Cameli & Cia Ltda, and the partner of the former governor, Abraão Cândido da Silva. Altogether, 2,748 m3 of timber were taken from the indigenous area. In addition to the damages caused by the depredation of a natural forest, the convicted are also responsible for spreading diseases and for sexual abuse against the indigenous people.
Source: Cimi
May 11, 2000
- Studies reveal racism
A recent study released by Ceap (Center Clearinghouse of Marginalized Populations), an NGO linked to the Black Movement here in Brazil, reveals that 78% of the population in the state of Rio de Janeiro believes that there are racial problems between blacks and whites in Brazil. The area where there is the most difficulty is in the workplace, according to the study. An interesting element of the research was that although the majority believe that there is racism, 87% of the people surveyed said that they themselves held no prejudices. "No one admits to being racist. It is always a fault in someone else. This unconscientized attitude is a special characteristic of our racism," said Ivanir dos Santos, Secretary General of Ceap. Another study released this week demonstrated that in the city of Rio de Janeiro, 70.2% of those shot and killed by the police are persons of color. Although blacks make up a minority of the general population in Rio (8.4%), the percentage of blacks killed by the police is the greatest per capita: of the 805 deaths due to conflicts with the police, 29.8% were black. Those classified as "brown" and who make up 31.6% of the population represent 40.4% of the number of deaths; this compared to the number of whites, who make up 60% of the population and represent 29.4% of the victims.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
May 12 & 15, 2000
- Tests demonstrate Parana MST member shot by police in conflict
Two weeks ago (News from Brazil, No. 398), Sejup sent information on a conflict in the state of Parana between MST (Movement of rural workers Without Land) members and the military police. In the conflict, several MSTers were wounded and one man, Antonio Tavares Pereira, 38, was killed. The Parana military police vigorously denied that one of their guns had killed the man as all were using rubber bullets. However this week the crime lab was able to remove shrapnel from the body traced the bullet and discovered that it was in fact from the gun of a Parana police officer, Joel de Lima Santana. Santana has been suspended from duties pending further investigations.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
May 13, 2000
- Government finally submits official document concerning torture
After a ten year delay, the Brazilian government has finally sent its report on torture in Brazil to the United Nations. The report is part of a requirement of a U.N. treaty against torture which Brazil signed in 1989. The report admits that torture continues to happen in prisons and jails. "Police continue to practice torture in order to gain information, force confessions, and as forms of extortion and punishment," the document states. "These cases of brutality rarely come to public attention because the victims are generally from poor backgrounds, don’t know their rights, and fear police retaliation [if they complain]." In 1997, a law officially outlawed the practice of torture. Since then, hundreds of cases have been presented to the courts, but to date, not one person has been served a sentence. Mary Robinson, the director of the U.N.’s High Commission for Human Rights, said that she would now like to send a special envoy to Brazil to collect information regarding torture. She said that although Brazil has made an important first step, there is still much work to be done. Robinson said that she is still very concerned human rights violations against landless workers, blacks, women and children.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
May 16, 2000
- Documents link Brazil to Operation Condor
Brazil’s Commission of Human Rights received yesterday 101 pages of documents that link Brazil to Operation Condor. Operation Condor is an alleged connection between the military dictatorships of Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay during the 1970's and 80's. The goal of the operation was to share military intelligence concerning alleged "subversives" of leftist groups. It is believed that many were tortured and murdered at the hands of those involved in the operation. The Commission is now sending a request to President Cardoso to open military files from that period.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
May 18, 2000
- Protesters conflict with police in financial center
A protest on Avenida Paulista, located in Sao Paulo and considered to be the financial heart of South America, ended with 20 people being wounded. A group of nearly 30,000 comprised of health workers, mass transit operators and teachers were protesting low salaries. They were occupying one side of the avenue when a group decided to occupy the other side as well. Upon doing so, the military police threatened the group, and shortly after began the conflict. The protesters threw rocks, and the military police used tear gas and rubber bullets. One man, Alexandre Silveira, a photographer for the Agora Sao Paulo newspaper, was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet. The Secretary of Public Security, Marco Vinicio Petrelluzzi said that he was satisfied with how the police responded to the situation.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
May 19, 2000
CHURCH ISSUES
- CNBB reaffirms its commitment to indigenous peoples
The document released yesterday, entitled "Brazil: 500 Years of Dialogue and Hope," marks the end of the 38th General Assembly of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB). The Catholic Bishops reaffirmed their firm commitment to the indigenous cause. The document, which seeks to rethink the past and examine current and future challenges, underscores that "for the church to be loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ, it needs to be at the service of men and women, especially the weak, particularly when human dignity is threatened. All that which effects human beings also effects the Church." Hence the Bishops touch on important issues such as the struggle of the poor, African Brazilians, and indigenous peoples.
With regard to indigenous peoples, the CNBB mentioned the wounds inflicted by colonization, which enslaved and exterminated several indigenous peoples through social and cultural dismantling, wars, diseases, and massacres. The role of the missionaries is underscored as the Bishops reaffirm their plea for forgiveness for the errors committed by Christians, for "all that which was objectively against the Gospel and gravely damaged the human dignity of many of our brothers and sisters." For the CNBB, the Church's defense of the poor and marginalized sectors of society reflects its full awareness of their rights that were denied: "This poor population, along with the indigenous people and African Brazilians, is owed an immense social debt accumulated throughout the centuries as our nation was forged."
The 38th Assembly approved the motion condemning the "grave and arbitrary violence" committed against indigenous people and others who took part in a peaceful protest in Santa Cruz de Cabrália, in Bahia. The Catholic Bishops expressed their commitment to support the demands set forth by the Indigenous Conference held in Coroa Vermelha from April 18th to 22nd, especially the quick demarcation of indigenous lands and cancellation of Decree n. 1,775/96 - which regulates the administrative procedure for the demarcation of indigenous lands. They also demanded that the National Congress ratify the Statute of Indigenous Peoples and uphold the federal government's responsibility to assist the indigenous cause. In this regard, the Bishops condemned the government's attempts to transfer to the states, municipalities, and private organizations its constitutional obligation to provide assistance, such as healthcare, to indigenous peoples.
Source: Cimi
May 4, 2000
REQUEST FROM FRIENDS OF THE MST
On May 24th the Governor of Parana, Jamie Lerner, will be speaking on "Curitiba and Parana Today" at the Dept of Urban Planning at the University of Washington in Seattle. Most likely, the organizers and audience will have never heard of the MST or Antonio Pereira, a MST protester who was killed by the police in Curitiba on May 2. This is a timely opportunity to publicly question Lerner about his human rights violations. If you are in the Seattle area and interested in attending this event or would like additional information, please contact Colleen Donovan (cdonovan@u.washington.edu).
URGENT ACTION
- Brazil Ranchers Call for More Destruction - Key Vote in Congress May 24
The large landowners and ranchers caucus of the Brazilian Congress on May 9th passed draft legislation out of committee that would increase cutting and burning of the Amazon forest 25% over current yearly rates, about 4,250 square kilometers a year at 1998 rates, or an area 164 times as large as Washington DC of additional deforestation. Support Brazil's Amazonian and national grassroots and environmental organizations in saving the forest, and defeating the 1% of landowners who control 50% of the agricultural land and have already cut, burned and abandoned an area of forest bigger than Florida!
A vote on the plan is scheduled on the floor of the Brazilian House of Representatives on May 24. Please fax or e-mail Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) respectfully requesting that he work to defeat this measure, and approve the National Environmental Council (CONAMA) proposal. Insiders in Brazil tell us that FHC has asked to personally see all the international correspondence on this issue. Brazilian environmentalists, the media, and society at large have overwhelmingly mobilized against the ranchers special interest group, jamming the mailboxes of Congress and dominating the airwaves. But your voice is needed will have an effect in supporting Brazilian grassroots, environmental, union and human rights organizations and public opinion to stop this stick-up of Brazil's irreplaceable natural patrimony.
Fax or E-Mail President Cardoso NOW!
(Sample message) Ilmo. Exmo. Sr. Presidente da Republica do Brasil Palacio do Planalto Brasilia, DF Brasil
fax: 011-55-61-224-0289; 011-55-61-226-7566 e-mail: presidencia@planalto.gov.br ; pr@planalto.gov.br
Dear Mr. President:
I respectfully urge you to call on your congressional supporters to defeat Mr. Michelletto's proposed revisions of your Forestry Code, and to support the National Environment Council (CONAMA) proposal negotiated by your government and overwhelmingly supported by Brazilian society.
Thank you for your attention. __________________________________________________________
For further information :
Steve Schwartzman sschwartzman@environmentaldefense.org 202-387-3500; Environmental Defense
Adriana Ramos adriana@socioambiental.org -011-55-61-349-5114 Instituto Socioambiental
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