Number 51, October 30, 1992.

HUMAN RIGHTS

- Police violence in Sao Paulo is analyzed in a best-seller.

During recent weeks a book by journalist Caco Barcellos entitled "Rota 66" and published by Editora Globo (Sao Paulo) has been on the best sellers list in Brazil. The title "Rota" refers to an elite group of the First Battalion of the Military Police of Sao Paulo known as the Rondas Ostensivas Tobias Aguiar (ROTA). This group has had a very violent history since it was founded. The book represents several years of research of all the records available ranging from police documents to court archives to newspaper reports. The purpose of the research was to examine all the registered killings by the military police in the city of Sao Paulo since the foundation of this police force in 1970.

The result of the survey shows that in this 22 year period, the military police has killed at least 3523 people in Sao Paulo. Investigating the cases on an individual basis, Barcellos discovered that the majority of these victims were innocent and had never been involved in crime. The break-down of the figures is as follows: 1496 or 42,6 per cent of the 3523 killed by the police had a criminal record; 2027 or 57,4 per cent had no criminal record. Curious is the fact that in this total, 1300 non identified people have been killed. Barcellos concludes from this fact that the military police kill a significant number of their victims without knowing absolutely nothing about their lives.

The survey managed to draw a profile of those assassinated by the military police. Over 2000 of the total were migrants arriving especially from the north east of Brazil. 650 were originally from this region; 213 of this number came from the State of Pernambuco. The absolute majority were from the poorer classes, were negroes or mulattos and lived on the periphery of Sao Paulo. The majority were factory workers or were employed in construction. In both cases their average income was less than U.S. $100 per month. Most were in their 20s and had spent a very few years in school. Very large numbers of children and adolescents have also been assassinated by the military police during this period.

Of interest is the number of military police who have been killed. Numbers are not available in the book for the entire period but in the period 1985 to 1991 for example, figures available show that 400 members of the military police were killed; at least 2.599 people were killed by the same police force during the same period. Barcellos uses informal estimates supplied by commanding officers to show that many were killed during their time off duty. Such estimates indicate that approximately 30 per cent or in the region of 120 military police were killed during this period during police work.

Some well known names figure in the study. One such is that of lieutenant Wanderly Mascarenhas de Souza. According to Barcellos' survey this officer is responsible for 34 assassinations. One of his specialities is the quelling of rebellions in prisons. Thus he is one of the accused of having killed 15 prisoners in the Casa de Detencao in 1982 and also six mentally deficient patients with criminal records in the prison for the mentally ill in Franco da Rocha in 1982. It is also of interest that he commanded the Group of Special Tactical Action (Grupo de Acoes Taticas Especiais - GATE) on October 02 last. This is one of the battalions of the military police who invaded the Casa de Detencao and was involved in the massacre of 111 prisoners. Souza is reported in newspapers as having said that on this occasion he lost count of the number of times he changed the ammunition holder in his machine gun to fire on the prisoners. Colonel Ubiratan Guimaraes commanded the Metropolitan Police Force (Policiamento Metropolitano) of Sao Paulo on the occasion of the massacre of October 02. Of interest is the fact that Barcellos, who had published his book before the massacre, accuses Guimaraes of possible involvement in a number of assassinations.

Another well known personality who figures in the survey is former captain (and at the moment state deputy and broadcaster) Roberval Conte Lopes. Lopes likes to boast of the number of people he has assassinated and in some reports he is quoted as admitting to 200 such assassinations. In the survey carried out by Barcellos, there is clear evidence of 42 assassinations which he carried out. Thus Barcellos places him in third place in the list of military police involved in killings in Sao Paulo.

Last week's number of NEWS FROM BRAZIL also carried details about police violence in Sao Paulo. We encourage you to send a protest message to the Governor of the State of Sao Paulo regarding this growing police violence. We suggest that apart from outlining your protest, you demand in your message that the law be changed so that police be judged by civil and not by military courts for crimes they commit. The address is:

Dr. Antonio Fleury Filho,

Governor do Estado de Sao Paulo,

Av. Morumbi 4500,

05598 Sao Paulo,

S.P., Brazil. Fax (011) 826-6773

RURAL QUESTIONS

- Entities protest the appointment of Minister for Agriculture.

A letter of protest against the appointment of Lazaro Barbosa (former deputy representing the State of Goias) as Minister of Agriculture was sent on October 21 to acting president Itamar Franco by the Sole Workers' Congress (CUT), the National Federation of Agricultural Workers (CONTAG), the Movement of Rural Landless Workers (MST), the Pastoral Commission for Land (CPT) and by the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI). The letter affirms that Barbosa was the coordinator of recently impeached President Collor's election campaign in the State of Goias and was also responsible for the scandal of the rice that rotted in state granaries in that state. In 1989, the new Minister for Agriculture defended the Democratic Rural Union's (UDR) project for agriculture. The UDR is the principal organization of Brazil's large landowners and has been accused frequently during recent years as having been involved in the assassination of rural leaders.

CHURCHES

- Mercosul demands a more profound debate according to the National Catholic Bishops' Conference (CNBB).

The sector of the CNBB responsible for social questions organized a seminar last month in Curitiba dealing with the Mercosul (the proposed South American Common Market). The following is a summary of the final document of the seminar.

Those who participated remembered the origin of the Mercosul project. Its constitution was formally signed in Assuncao on March 26, 1991 by four countries - Argentine, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. According to the agreement signed by the four countries, starting on January 1, 1995 the boarders of the four countries will be opened for free trade between each of the countries. According to the final document of the CNBB meeting this project provokes a number of questions. Such questions include why civil society was not called on to give its opinion about the project; why there was so much haste to set up such a complex process; what are the real interests which motivated the decision and finally the document questions the political legitimacy of this decision since this decision was taken by heads of government who so poorly represent the populations involved (for example Alfonsin and Collor).

Dealing with the nature of the agreement and its possible impact on the local populations, the document released at the end of the meeting made a number of observations. In the first place, it seems as if the agreement is by and large commercial and thus attends the interests of transnational companies. Thus, such companies will have a larger market and a larger profit. In this way, Mercosul is not a project geared to strengthen regional economies to the benefit of the local populations. This latter impression is strengthened by the fact that the initiatives for the implementation of the project are being carried out almost entirely by companies. The countries in question are by and large rubber - stamping these initiatives. Thus not only is the participation of civil society of extreme importance but the document also demands that the countries involved defend the legitimate interests of the local populations in all the decisions taken.

Secondly, the project as it is being developed is geared to a totalitarian market and a competitive economy. Thus the most import priorities of all of the countries involved, namely basic consumer needs and the quality of life of the poor and excluded sections of the population, are ignored. Because of the short time space involved in the implementation of the project, the CNBB document fears that many sectors and regions will be ignored in the process; such a process could bring huge losses and suffering to such groups. The fact that the smaller countries involved, Uruguay and Paraguay, are not given special protection raises the question of the preservation of the national and cultural identities of the countries involved. The document feels that small and medium size companies as well as the workers will be very vulnerable after Mercosul begins to function and feels that such groups could thus lose many of the rights conquered in recent years. Agriculture will also be very vulnerable, especially so small producers and sectors which are not geared to competition. Here there is a risk of a high rural exodus and serious ecological problems.

The document makes a number of proposals:

1) That there be more transparency and information regarding the Mercosul project. For example, all the decisions taken in the sub-commissions should be published.

2)That civil society carry out a wide ranging debate concerning the implications and impacts which Mercosul may cause in all the sectors of the economy, in the different regions of each country and on the local populations involved.

3) That forums should be set up at different levels. Such forums would involve grassroots entities and other groups of the four countries involved and would have as their purpose the articulation of debates, initiatives, studies and proposals of civil society in regard to Mercosul.

4) That a referendum should be carried out in the four countries involved following a prolonged and ample process of information giving to decide if the Mercosul project should be implemented or not.

CHILDREN

- Rebellion practically destroys children's' prison (FEBEM) in Sao Paulo.

Last week's edition of NEWS FROM BRAZIL carried a news item of the excessive overcrowding and poor living conditions in one of the Holding Units of FEBEM, Tatuape, city of Sao Paulo. On Thursday evening, October 22, a rebellion broke out in the prison which resulted in the death of one person, the destruction or serious damage to 14 of the 16 units in the complex and the escape of approximately 600 of the 1300 minors held in the institution.

The overcrowding and living conditions were largely responsible for the rebellion which was sparked off by an attack of one of the functionaries on one of the minors. Extensive damage was caused to the institution by fire. The widespread destruction to the institution greatly intensified the lack of adequate housing for young offenders in the State of Sao Paulo.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

- The precarious health conditions of the native peoples.

The Indigenous Missionary Council (Conselho Indigenista Missionario - CIMI ) recently released a document dealing with the precarious health conditions of the native peoples. Malnutrition, alcoholism, the high incidence of infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, the lack of human and financial recourses, the lack of programs of vaccination, difficulties of access to the public system of health and various kinds of violence are the major problems faced by the approximately 230 thousand indians all over the country according to the CIMI document.

What makes the issue more serious is that this situation is threatening the physical and cultural survival of many native groups. This denunciation is in the concluding document of the Eleventh National Meeting of Health, promoted by CIMI, an organ attached to the CNBB (Brazilian National Bishop Conference). The meeting took place in Hidrolandia, State of Goias and brought together approximately 30 health professionals of CIMI and of Operacao Anchieta (OPAN) who also work with indigenous communities throughout Brazil.

In this alarming picture of the health situation of the native peoples one of the chief causes pointed out in the document is the non-demarcation and lack of guarantee of the indigenous lands. This results in the invasion of thousands of gold prospectors, timber merchants and ranchers and even in the implantation of large government projects in indigenous areas. This contact provokes the spread of diseases and also generates many kinds of violence.

The lack of an adequate health policy on the part of the government as well as a certain disorganization on the part of entities who work with native peoples are also factors which contribute to the deterioration of the health conditions of these peoples. The basic conditions for the survival of the native peoples according to the health professionals include demarcation and guarantee of indigenous lands and an indigenist policy geared towards indigenous interests.

On the question of indigenous health, the document demands that this question be taken on by the Ministry of Health. It further demands that the native people not only participate in, but also control the elaboration, approval and functioning of programs dealing with indigenous health or indeed any other programs which have a bearing on their communities. It further demands the formation of health workers, availability of vacinations to the indigenous populations, the effective control of endemic diseases especially of malaria and tuberculosis, a guarantee of access to the official health system whenever this is necessary and a participation of a majority of indians in the Intersectorial Commission of Indigenous Health (Comissao Intersetorial de Saude Indigena), in the District Indigenist Health Councils as well as in groups of the Health Ministry dealing with indigenous health. Besides, the document requests that there be special attention given to the preservation of cultural values especially in recognizing and respecting traditional systems of indigenous health.

According to a report of the National Health Foundation (Fundacao Nacional de Saude) 60 deaths were caused this year alone by malaria and tuberculosis amongst the Yanomani of the states of Roraima and Amazonas. FUNAI (the government organ which works with the native peoples) announced recently that the number of such deaths has been 150. Timber merchants were responsible for an outbreak of measles at the beginning of this year. This outbreak provoked the deaths of 46 indians from the Deni group and 9 of the Kulina group in the villages of the river Xerna, municipality of Itamaraty, in southern Amazonia. The number of deaths amongst the Deni represented more than 10 per cent of the indigenous population of that area which according to the 1990 Census is 359.

56 cases of cholera were reported amongst the Kiriri-Xoko in the State of Alagoas; this problem was provoked by the lack of untreated water. The Pataxo of the State of Bahia experienced an attack of meningitis which already caused the death of a child according to FUNAI. An outbreak of whooping cough occurred recently amongst the Pataxo Ha Ha Hae. In the State of Para, malaria has recently attacked the Kaiapo and the hospital refused to attend them because of an accumulation of unpaid bills by FUNAI. The Karaja and the Tapirape of the State of Mato Grosso have also had an outbreak of malaria and did not receive medical or hospital assistance.

Apart from diseases, assassinations and conflicts which affect practically all the native peoples, the degradation of the environment due to the pollution of the rivers by the gold prospectors and the timber merchants has also seriously affected their health.

- Brazilian indians call the 500 years of colonization of America "the 500 years of shame".

The events promoted by indigenous organizations of the Brazilian Amazon to remember the 500 years anniversary of the arrival of europeans in the Americas became protest manifestations, denouncements against violence and the affirmation of indigenous resistance. The events took place in Manaus and Boa Vista, capitals of the States of Amazonia and Roraima.

Speaking to over 600 people in Boa Vista on October 12, Euclides Pereira from the makuxi tribe said that the colonization of the Americas should be remembered "as the 500 years of shame". Many banners were on display demanding the demarcation of the indigenous lands. Waldir Tobias Makuxi, vice co-ordinator of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (Conselho Indigena de Roraima CIR) remembered the death-threats which indigenous leaders have been suffering because they want their lands demarcated - "Until this moment we are alive, but we are being threatened by the ranchers". According to another member of the Maxuxi, Jaci de Souza, the indians frequently can leave the villages only under the cover of darkness in order to avoid a confrontation with the invaders of the indigenous areas.

Yanomami, Davi Kopenawa, who in 1989 received the United Nations Global Prize 500 denounced that the territory of his group has been invaded once again by approximately 2000 gold prospectors who not only are polluting the rivers but have also caused diseases. During 1992, malaria and TB alone have killed almost 60 Yanomami.

In Manaus, the 500 years anniversary was commemorated by debates in the Legislative Assembly and a show with artists from the region. Between each music different indigenous leaders spoke and emphasized the resistance of the peoples who for thousands of years have lived in the Americas.

"We demand the right to tell our own story" said Bare Orlando Melgueiro of the Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coordenacao das Organizacoes Indigenas da Amazonia Brazileira). He recalled the genocide which took place in Brazil; in 1500 the indigenous population was more than 6 million, today it is approximately 250 thousand. "We cannot celebrate the genocide. Such people died defending life and right to land and this is the example that we take for our action" Melgueiro commented.

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