Number 431, December 22, 2000.
Visit our home page: http://www.oneworld.org/sejup/
In this week's issue:
>NEWS BRIEFS
- Fr. Julio Lancellotti receives human rights award
- Agreement grants land to landless in Sao Paulo
- New bill proposals reparations for torture victims
- Study demonstrates ill effects of privatization
>HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
- Amnesty International releases its report on the police violence on 500th anniversary
>URGENT ACTION REQUEST
- MST asks again for letter writing campaign for MST prisoners
NEWS BRIEFS
- Fr. Julio Lancellotti receives human rights award
The 17th Franz de Castro Holzwarth Award for Human Rights given by the Order of Lawyers of Brazil was presented this year to a Catholic priest, Fr. Julio Lancellotti. Lancellotti received the prize on December 11th after two minutes of uninterrupted applause in an auditorium filled with hundreds of representatives who work in the area of human rights. He is best known for his work with juvenile delinquents in Sao Paulo’s Febem (juvenile detention centers) system, though he also works with children with AIDS and street kids. "Believing that who plants neglect will reap violence, Fr. Julio is an example of those who dedicate their lives planting peace together with the sons and daughters of God who suffer most from social exclusion. The closeness and trust that Fr. Julio generates among those at the margins of society is possible because of the pure-hearted love that he has for them," commented the newspaper "O Sao Paulo."
Source: O Sao Paulo
December 13, 2000
- Agreement grants land to landless in Sao Paulo
The governor of the state of Sao Paulo, Mario Covas, announced this past week a plan to grant 13,500 hectares of land to rural workers without land in Pontal do Paranapanema, located in the western part of the state of Sao Paulo. This tract of land will settle 550 families at a cost of US$6 million to the federal government. Jose Rainha Jr., a leader of the MST (Movement of rural workers Without Land) said the announcement was an step forward, but still falls short of adequate as there are another 1,200 families still without land in the area.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
December 16, 2000
- New bill proposals reparations for torture victims
A new bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Sao Paulo which proposes reparations for political prisoners and people tortured by the military from the years 1964 to 1979. The monetary value of the reparations would be between US$2,000 and US$20,000. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Mario Covas, who is expected to sign it.
Source: Correio da Cidadania
December 16 - 23, 2000
- Study demonstrates ill effects of privatization
According to a recent study by Professor Marcio Pochmann of the University of Campinas, privatization of state enterprises in Sao Paulo between 1989 and 1999 resulted in the loss of 546,000 jobs. This represents a fall of 43.9% in the total of sectorial jobs in this period. Another conclusion was that the public sector practically ceased to be a channel for young people trying to enter in the work market. At one point, work for young people under the age of 24 dropped 73.4%.
Source: Correio da Cidadania
December 16 - 23, 2000
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
- Amnesty International releases its report on the police violence on 500th anniversary
Brazil: Police violence on 500th anniversary -- new investigation needed
AI Index: AMR 19/031/2000
Publish date: 18/12/2000
A new investigation is needed into the military police action of 22 April 2000 against indigenous and black groups, landless activists, and others protesting against Brazil's official 500th anniversary celebrations in Porto Seguro, Bahia state, said Amnesty International today in a new report.
On 22 April, 30 protestors were injured and over 140 temporarily detained when military police reportedly attacked peaceful protestors using tear gas, rubber bullets and baton charges. Eight months on and those responsible for the operation and the human rights violations committed remain no closer to justice.
"The authorities have not responded adequately to the strong witness and documentary evidence of unprovoked and disproportionate police force against demonstrators," said the human rights organization. "A full review of the case is essential."
In its new report, Amnesty International argues that instead of investigating and bringing to account all those responsible, and also compensating the victims, the authorities sought to portray the victims as the perpetrators. The organization also stated that the authorities justified the police action in terms of preventing disruptions to the official celebrations.
Earlier this year, a federal police investigation exonerated the military police of allegations of excessive and arbitrary use of force. However, the federal prosecutors office responsible for initiating investigations in the case has been highly critical of the investigation, calling it inadequate and superficial, and is seeking to disprove its findings.
"The problem is that those seeking to further the investigations have faced lack of resources and overt official support for the military police officers involved - the officer in charge of the operation was promoted in recognition for his role," said Amnesty International.
"It is the responsibility of the authorities, both state and federal, to ensure that a full and fair judicial process can take place. So far, the authorities have appeared unwilling to establish such a climate, denying the victims the right to justice and redress," the organization added.
Amnesty International has documented over many years human rights violations against indigenous peoples and other minorities, including the failure of the judicial system to provide justice. The events of 22 April and the subsequent failure to effectively investigate the abuses and adequately compensate the victims, lends further weight to the claims of these groups that the judicial system discriminates against them.
Background
On 22 April 2000, the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese arrival in Brazil, the Bahia state military police reportedly used arbitrary and excessive police force in order to prevent protestors from the Marcha IndRgena 2000 and Outros 500 campaign from reaching Porto Seguro, Bahia, where official celebrations were taking place. Photographs and witnesses appear to bear out the claims of those who participated in the protest that the police action was unprovoked.
\ENDS
public document
****************************************
For a copy of the report, Brazil: Police Violence & the 500th Anniversary (AMR 19/29/00, December 2000) or for more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW web : http://www.amnesty.org
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed.
****************************************************************
URGENT ACTION REQUEST
- MST asks again for letter writing campaign for MST prisoners
Sejup is sending on to you a letter we received this week from the MST. Last week we reported to you that six MST leaders, Valquimar Reis Fernandes, Rosalino Bispo de Oliveira, Elvis Ferreira Lima, Odair Moraes da Rosa, Benedito Ismael Alves Cardoso and Edmar Pereira dos Santos, have been unjustly imprisoned since last year after a conflict with the police during a demonstration. Below is an update and a request.
LATE BREAKING NEWS: Just as Sejup was getting ready to send out this message, we received word that the judge released the six prisoners. A great victory and a wonderful holiday gift! Perhaps we could still send messages to the judge in gratitude for the decision!
Dear Friends,
I'm sending you a VERY URGENT request in support of six MST political prisoners who are on a hunger strike. The Vice-President of the Sao Paulo State Court is refusing to schedule their new trial and we need you to write him ASAP. Even the Public Prosecutor has asked for their immediate release, but the Court insists on keeping them in prison.
PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
DR. MARCIO BONILHA
PRESIDENT OF TRIBUNAL DE JUSTIÇA DE SÃO PAULO
FAX. 11-232.93.66
E-MAIL: gab1@tj.sp.gov.br
The reproduction of this material is permitted as long as the source is
cited.
The reproduction of this material is permitted as long as the source is cited. If you wish to contact us, send a message to braziljusticenet@braziljusticenet.org. If you wish to be removed from our email list, go to http://braziljusticenet.org/subscribe.htm, type in your email address, and click "unsubscribe" button.