November 28, 1991

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES:

Land of the Yanomami. After President Collor signed the decree declaring and recognizing the right of the Yanomami to 9.4 million hectares of land, a series of questioning the correctness of the presidential decree is being orchestrated. Signing the decree, Collor substantiated the rights of the Yanomami as recognized in article 231 of the constitution, by which "are recognized for the Indians their social organizations, customs, language, beliefs and traditions to the original rights to the land which they have traditionally occupied and is incumbent upon the Union to mark, protect, and respect all their property". Eduardo Leao, of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), in an interview with AGEN, said that the signing ofthe decree soothed society and the Public Ministry, and he went on to say, " the realization of the decree will demonstrate the choice to end the genocide of the Yanomami. This is not enough, because we still need urgent action for the solution of the grave health problems that the Indians are suffering". For federal deputy,Fabio Goldman (PSDB\SP) those interested parties in not wanting the finalization of the bounderies are "owners of the illegal logging that is being done with impunity in all the Amazon,those who control the gold mines connected with the laundrying of drug money, thus, those who have traditionally become rich through the plundering exploration of the natural resources of the country". While many international organizations, including representatives of the United States Senate are applauding the Brazilian Government, deputy Jair Bolsonaro (PDC\RJ) is presenting to the Attorney General of the Republic a move to contest the constitutionality of the Act of Creating Boundries. For more information, contact the Commission for the Creation of the Yanomami Park, Rua Manoel da Nobrega, 111, conj. 321 CEP 04001, Sao Paulo,SP., Telephone (011) 289-1200, FAX (011) 284-6997.

CIMI's reaction. On Nov. 26, the Indigenous Missionary Council published a memorandum entitled, "Reactions against demarcation put the survival of the Yanomami at risk." The following is the entire text of the memorandum: "Since the decree which declared the limit and determined the demarcation of the Yanomami territory was signed by the Minister of Justice, Jarbas Passarinho on Nov. 15, there have been more and more demonstrations against the measure. These reactions are from economic, political, and military sectors who with inconsistent and illegal arguments, intend to confound public opinion, and keep the demarcation from becoming reality.

No one is giving land to the Yanomami, as it has been alleged. The demarcation is a measure foreseen in the Constitutions and is meant to clarify the traditional territorial limits ocuupied by these people. To continue affirming that this is a lot of land for a few Indians is to defend the continuing genocide of the Yanomami. Just from January to September of this year 4,334 out of 8,802 tests for malaria were positive. From January to October, 112 Yanomami, out of a population of about 8,400, died of malaria, tuberculosiss, malnutrition and respiratory illnesses, due to the continuing invasion of miners. These are scandalous numbers. It would be as if in Brazil, the entire population of Brasilia - about 2 million people - were devastated and completely wiped out by an epidemic.

From 1987 to 1990, 1,500 Yanomami died, 15% of the total poulation. This figure equals the total number of deaths in Europe during World War II. In these 3 years, some Yanomami communities practically disappeared: Koniu, which had 36 inhabitants, now has 7; Whatou had 59 inhabitants in 1988 and in the following year had 17.

Those who affirm that, with demarcation, the Army could not be able to install its troops nor could there be mineral exploration in these lands, are mistaken. Action in the nation's interests, such as military presence in indigenous lands, may take place according to supplemantary laws. In case of a risk to the soverignty of the State the community will be able to be removed temporarily after the authorization of Congress. Mineral exploration may also happen through the authorization of Congress and after the publication of the law. That is, Congress will have a say on the conditions of this type of presence and activity. Affirmations that the demarcation favor foreign interests are false. On the contrary, indigenous land, as clause 11, article 20 of the Constitution states, are under federal dominion, property of the Brazilian State. Therefore, to mark out indigenous territory is to nationalize the land, protecting it from outside interests. Only the voracious greed of economic groups could want to confound the public opinion by affirming that marking out the Yanomami land is the same as favoring foreign interests, It is not by chance that in recent years at the DNPM (National Department of Mineral Production), 717 requests for mineral exploration in the Yanomami territory were made.

Throughout the history of Brazil, arguments were made similar to those being made now, which justify the elimation of hundred of indigenous people, always in the name of alleged development. Either this practice is changed guaranteeing the territory of the Yanomami, or one more indigenous people dies. The second alternative will disgrace the memory of future generations forever."

Brasilia, November 26, 1991. Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI).

to contact CIMI write, Caixa Postal 11-1159, CEP 70084, Brasilia, DF. Telephone (061) 225-9457, Telex 61-4293, FAX (061) 225-9401.

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS:

Internation divulgation. With the purpose of helping the international community become aware of the situation of children and adoslescents in Brazil, and publicising the campaign: "Say No to Death: Priority for Life of Children and Adolescents", Signor Reichel, president of AMEMCAR (Aid to the Needy Minor), with headquarters in Sao Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, is visiting New Zealand from Nov. 19 to Dec.4. During the trip he will present the work which AMENCAR has developed in 15 states, by financially assisting 40,000 impoverished children and adolescents, and providing technical assinstance to 140 contracted organizations. A young girl who was helped by the Casa de Passagem (Passage House) of Recife, Pernambuco, representatives of the Ecumenical Servie Cooodination (CESE) are accompanying the president of AMENCAR in this trip at the invitation of the Christian World Service, an ecumenical organization in New Zealand which promotes the interchange of information regarding situation of injustice.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:

Workers Party Congress. About 1200 delegates, and 400 national and international guests are participating in the 1st Workers Party (PT) Congress, from Nov. 27 to Dec.1 at the Vera Cruz Pavilion, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, SP. Historian Ronaldo Pereira, in the article, " The PT according to Chaui"pointed out that professor and philosopher Marilena Chaui developed a genetical-structrual analysis of the Workers Party, which remains very relevant. "1 - PT members, coming from various orientations of the left, although heterogeneous among themselves,strengthened one organizational tradition,Leninism. 2 - PT members, coming from grassroots movements linked to the church, bring to the party the unique tradition they know, that is, with important variations, the hierarchical, vertical, and centralized model of the church itself. 3 - PT members, coming from labor union movements, bring to the party the unique model which they have as tradition, whatever it may be, the protected, hierarchical, and centralized model of labor organization produced by the Estado Novo (New State). 4 - PT members, coming from the middle class, bring a fluid conception of class struggle, a vague image of democracy, a strong desire of a monachist tinge that, for not being rooted in the old anarchist traditions of Sao Paulo, produces the effect known in the PT as "light" that is, not submissive to the Leninist model and the base Christian Community model. But also lacking a theoretical and practical consistency to propose another model of Party organization." The consequences of this image and a summary of challenges that influence the PT may be further examined in Ronaldo Pereira's text (Vermelo e Branco, Edition no.22, November 1991).

HUMAN RIGHTS:

The situation in the state of Para. The Paraense Society of the Defense of Human Rights (SDDH) is accompanying the case of the dismissal of two principals of State Schools in the city of Maraba,PA. Jaide Maria das Gracas Barreiros and Angelina Martins da Cruz directed respectively the schools Paulo Freire and Liberdade, which they also helped to build, with the aid of the community. Angelina Martin de Cruz says that, "the municipal administration of Maraba, PA is disposed to punish severly all who oppose the mayor, Nagib Multran Neto and his father,deputy Osvaldo Multran". On October 3, about 80 soldiers had been sent to the schools in order to guarantee the taking over by the new principals, appointed by the Secretary of Education, but the students and their parents did not accept the new principals. On this day a number of children were beaten and Rev. Bruno Schizzerotto was beaten by the police. The SDDH opened an office in Maraba in order to accompany closely the situation of the region which has 7 military bases, the presence of gunmen and the powerful Multran family. The SDDH is also accompanying the problem of families who live near the Tucurui dam. These families are being attacked by insects. For more information, contact the Paraense Soeity of Human Rights, Travessa Barao do Triunfo, 2129, Pedeira, CEP 66093. Belem, PA., telephone and Fax (091)225-4677. In Maraba,the telephone of SDDH is (091) 321-1680.

Grassroots Education. The Grassroots University Institute (UNIPOP) of Belem,PA., founded in1989, is having formation courses in the areas of politics, culture and ecumenism. At the present time the Council of Representatives of the entity is formed by IECLB, the Episcopal Church, SDDH,FASE,CIPES,Centro 19 de Julho, CAMPOS, CPT, NAEA, CUT, CBB, FETRAGRI, CPB,IPAR and PROEX/PA: This entity publishes 4 times a year REVISTA CURIRA; whose last issue had, among other articles, a history of political and union formation in Brazil (text by Alberto Damasceno and Venize Rodrigues) and the relations between union and religion (text by Francisco Cetrullo). For more information UNIPOP, Av. Senador Lemos, 557, Daixa Postal 1098 CEP 66020, Belem PA., telephone (091) 224-9074.

500 YEARS OF COLONIZATION;

The campaign 500 years of colonization. The foundation Samuel and the Cultural Center Monte Azul are having, from Nov. 21 until Dec. 8, a series of activities in the context of the 500 years campaign. More than to judge the history of the 500 years, the entities wish to allote space to reflect, discuss and search for an understanding of the reality of Latin America. Besides theatrical presentations and art workshops, there are also talks on selected studies of themes related to the 500 years. On Nov.22, Fernando Peixoto teeated the theme "500 years and Culture". On Nov. 29, Newton Carlos will treat the theme, "500 years and politics". On Dec. 6, Rev. Jaime Wright and Creusa Maciel will focus on the theme, "500 years and evangelization". All the events of the campaign 500 Years and Colonization are being held at the Cultural Center Monte Azul, Av. Tomas de Souza, 552, Jardim Monte Azul, CEP 05836, Sao Paulo,SP. Telephone (011) 246-3552.

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