News from Brazil, No. 395 4/14/2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - SEJUP NEWS FROM BRAZIL supplied by SEJUP (Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz) Number 395, April 14, 2000. Visit our home page: http:// www. oneworld.org/sejup/ In this week's issue: NEWS BRIEFS - Innocent verdict in massacre at Eldorado do Carajas trial annulled - Minister of Justice Jose Carlos Dias fired by President Cardoso INDIGENOUS ISSUES - Pataxo decide to rebuild indigenous monument - Indigenous peoples begin march in route to Bahia HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES - The official manifesto of the "Other 500 Years": Brazil and 500 years of Indigenous, Black and Popular resistance NEWS BRIEFS - Innocent verdict in massacre at Eldorado do Carajas trial annulled For the second time within two weeks, Brazilian justice has handed down decisions favorable to the landless movement (MST). Last week, MST leader Jose Raihna Jr. was acquitted on charges of murder, and now this week, the Supreme Court of Para annulled the innocent verdict given to the first three officers tried for the massacre of Eldorado do Carajas (see past issues of News from Brazil on our web site for more details about the story). The three judges voted 2-1 in favor of the annulment of the verdict due to irregularities in the trial. Now, for the case to be retried, a judge is necessary. Last week, Judge Edineia Oliveira Tavares stepped down from the case for "personal reasons." Another judge, Claudio Montalvao was appointed, and he too stepped down for the same reason. The president of the Supreme Court of Para said he will invite other judges from the Belem area. If all refuse, he will then ask for judges from other cities in the state. Source: Linha Aberta April 12, 2000 - Minister of Justice Jose Carlos Dias fired by President Cardoso This week, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso fired Minister of Justice Jose Carlos Dias and put in Dias' place the Secretary of Human Rights, Jose Gregori. Dias was the fourth person to occupy the job in Cardoso's cabinet, and was the second to fall after a conflict the Minister of Institutional Security, General Alberto Cardoso. The first was Renan Calheiros, Dias' predecessor, who expressed publically his disagreement with the way the general was handling the Federal Police. This time, Dias expressed his discontent with the way the general was handling the "war on drugs." Gregori will remain at the post until 2001 when he will be replaced by the president of the Congress, Michel Temer. Gregori was the first Brazilian to gain the U.N.'s Human Rights Award in 1998 for his "50 year struggle to re-establish democracy in the country as well as for his national and regional human rights programs." Source: Folha de Sao Paulo April 12, 2000 INDIGENOUS ISSUES - Pataxo decide to rebuild indigenous monument One day after they destroyed the Indigenous Resistance Monument in Coroa Vermelha, the Military Police were still in the indigenous area making it difficult for people to access it. Cars were being stopped and people were being interrogated. The climate in the area was one of clear constraint. Only after the ministry of Justice intervened, some of the policemen left the area. Despite the pressure, the indigenous people decided to continue to build the monument. About 200 Pataxs who had been gathered since Wednesday (April 5) expressed their held-back outrage and unanimously decided to rebuild the monument. "The monument will be built no matter what happens. This is our decision," said Neusa Matos Pataxs. The chief of the village, Ailton Alves dos Santos (Caraja) gave vent to his feelings in an interview to the A Tarde newspaper: "They put a cross here that has nothing to do with indigenous people. We will have nothing to celebrate if even in our own land we don't have the freedom to erect a symbol or a monument in memory of indigenous peoples." The military action caused international indignation. Members of parliament, common people and organizations in Brazil and abroad sent letters to the committee in charge of the ceremonies of Brazil's 500th anniversary expressing their outrage with such arbitrary action less than 15 days from the official "festivities" and from the Indigenous Conference. Indigenous people from Brazil's north region who are already marching to Porto Seguro resented very much the destruction of their symbol of resistance. The Single Workers' Association (CUT), the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Representatives, through its chairman, representative Marcos Rolim, and senator Tico Vianna (Workers' Party  state of Acre) condemned the action at the National Congress and in letters sent to the governor of Bahia, Cisar Borges, and to the Public Security Secretary, Catia Maria Alves dos Santos. The Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Representatives has also asked the Office of the Attorney General for Citizenship Rights in Brasmlia to request explanations from the government of Bahia and the Military Police for the action and the immediate removal of the policemen from the indigenous area. The State Legislature of Bahia sent state deputy Edson Duarte (Green Party) to Cabralia to hear what the community has to say and report back the facts to all state deputies. Since it has no consistent explanations to provide, the federal administration has been lying to journalists, telling them that artist Dan Baron is collaborating with the community by producing the monument for the Pataxs. In many letters sent to local authorities, the Pataxs claim that they are the ones who had the idea to build the monument. They say that during the Conference they want to deliver to the peoples of Brazil a monument in memory of the life and resistance of indigenous people on the South American continent. The official reaction to their decision to re-erect the monument is still not known. Meanwhile, President Cardoso announced that he has canceled his visit to Coroa Vermelha on April 22 due to the conflicts. According to the President's advisors, it would be too hard to provide security for the president at the location. Also, indigenous leaders have asked the president to send the Federal Police to the area to guarantee safety for those indigenous protesting on April 22. Organizers of the event fear conflicts with the Military Police of Bahia. "My fear is that there will be a tense atmosphere, and if anything happens, the blame will be placed on the indigenous," commented Bishop dom Franco Masserdotti, president of Cimi. Source: Cimi and Folha de Sao Paulo - Indigenous peoples begin march in route to Bahia The Indigenous March has begun. The first caravan left last Tuesday, March 28th, from Benjamin Constant, Amazonas, taking representatives from the Tikuna, Marubo, Mayoruna, and Matis peoples to Coroa Vermelha in Santa Cruz de Cabralia, Bahia, for the Indigenous Conference "Other Brazil 500". The March is composed of caravans from five Brazilian regions, which are organized by the Network of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations from the Northeast, Minas Gerais, and Espmrito Santo (Apoinme), by the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations from the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab), and by the Council of the Brazilian Network of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations (Capoib) - with the support of Cimi, within the Movement for Indigenous, Black, and Grassroots Resistance. In some towns through which they pass, the caravans will be received by activists from the Black and grassroots movements, who come together for protests, rallies, seminars, and shows condemning the violence and extermination perpetrated against indigenous peoples throughout the last 500 years of colonization. For the Tikuna, the Indigenous March has a special meaning. The departure from Benjamin Constant happened on the exact same day as the 14 members from this people were killed in an ambush perpetrated in 1988 by local loggers in the Sco Leopoldo community. The case became known as the "Capacete Massacre", since it occurred along Capacete Stream. According to Pedro Inacio, this was a great opportunity to denounce how the killers have been let off unpunished. Upon their arrival in Manaus, on the 4th April, they will participate in demonstrations at the University of Amazonas in memory of the years of resistence and struggle, a parade through the streets and a political-cultural show at night. The indigenous delegation, composed of over 300 people, will continue on to Parantins, also in Amazonas, where the Sateri-Maui are organizing their departure, which will be marked by a public demonstration on April 6th. They will arrive in Santarim (PA) on the 7th and in Belim, on the 10th, where the caravans from Para and Amapa will meet. A series of public judgements on crimes committed throughout these 500 years against indigenous peoples, Blacks, and the poor and destitute population will take place in Santarim. On April 11th, a public demonstration will occur in Imperatriz, Maranhco. Upon arrival in Palmas (TO), on the 12th, the caravans from the Northern region and Goias will meet for a protest in town. Similar protests will take place throughout cities of the South, Southeast, and Northeast, as the indigenous peoples make their way to Bahia. As they pass through Brasilia on the 13th, a public hearing organized by the Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, Cimi, and Capoib, is to be held in the Salco Negro (Black Hall) of the National Congress. Departure for Bahia has been scheduled for the 14th, where a public demonstration will take place in Monte Pascoal on the 17th, in support of the Pataxs recovery of their land. Meanwhile, the caravan from the Northeast will stage a protest in Salvador. The Indigenous Conference 2000 will take place from April 18th to 22nd, bringing together over 2000 indigenous people representing 200 of the 215 indigenous peoples in Brazil. Source: Indianist Missionary Council - Cimi March 29, 2000 HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES - The official manifesto of the "Other 500 Years": Brazil and 500 years of Indigenous, Black and Popular resistance [While the Brazilian government prepares for grand celebrations of the so-called 500thanniversary of the "discovery" of Brazil two weeks from now, other groups are organizing to stage protests to call attention to the "Other 500 Years"--the stories of those oppressed and their 500 years of resistance. Below is the official manifesto of the movement "The Other 500 Years"] April 22, 2000 sees the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Pedro Alvares Cabral and the Portuguese in Porto Seguro, Bahia. It marks the beginning of an era of slavery and colonialist exploitation that continues today. The Brazilian and Portuguese governments are planning enormous and costly commemorations to celebrate 500 years since the supposed discovery of Brazil, including MADE, the Open Museum of Discovery, partly built on indigenous land. THE CAMPAIGN IN BRAZIL Between 1989-1992, Latin American and world movements reflected on the 500 years since the arrival of Columbus in the Americas. Now black, popular, landless and indigenous organizations throughout Brazil are uniting to manifest their indignation at such insensitive celebrations. Cultural, educational and religious manifestations and events have been taking place from April 1999, and will culminate in a Mega March to Porto Seguro in April 2000, coinciding with official commemorations. The aims are: to raise awareness of racial and social apartheid in Brazil; to reflect on the country's past and question the issue of 'discovery' and colonialist celebrations; to move forward into a new century marked by the end of apartheid and the beginning of equal rights, justice, representation and international solidarity. FACTS ABOUT BRAZIL - INEQUALITY Brazil is the 10th largest industrial economy in the world. In terms of human development, it ranks 120th (UNDP) with 32 million living in absolute poverty. Slavery provided the dominant ethos, laying the foundations for economic inequality and influencing the way society and institutions developed after abolition. Today, as under the military dictatorship (1964-1985), Congress remains unrepresentative, with very few rural or urban poor, black or indigenous politicians. Hundreds of senators and deputies defend the interests of the wealthy. Brazil has never had a left-wing government, and politics of exploitation and oppression have reigned since the Portuguese invasion. RACISM & BLACK RESISTANCE Millions of Africans were shipped over during 350 years of the slave trade. Although officially abolished in 1888, slave labor continues in many parts of Brazil today. Over four centuries, Brazil's wealth was accumulated by the work of slaves. One of the greatest black leaders of the Americas, slave leader Zumbi, initiated and led the Quilombo dos Palmares, a utopian community of freed slaves and an amazing example of resistance. He was murdered 300 years ago. Since then, only in 1988 laws were passed entitling ex-slave rural black communities to remain on their territory; but to date nothing has happened. Nearly half of Brazil's 160 million are black or mixed race, but "officially" Brazil is white--one look at the television demonstrates this. Blacks only appear on TV as soccer stars, suspects or murder victims. Many blacks are ashamed of their color and prefer to describe themselves as sunburnt, coffee-colored or dark. Legislation against racism exists, but cases of racial discrimination rarely ever get to court; and if they do, they are invariably held up. There is very little racial tolerance and discrimination is common place. For example, very few blacks are employed in middle class shopping centers in Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia, where 90% of the population is black. Most black drivers are taxi drivers, chauffeurs or bus-drivers. Few are car owners. The majority of street children, prostitutes, prisoners, unemployed and victims of police violence are black. Only 1-2% black people study in universities. The Revolt of the Mall's, 200 years ago, was the biggest ever uprising of black people against the government in Salvador. Today the Mall De Ball Afro-Brazilian samba school continues to fight for black people's rights and culture. Despite the marginalization of black culture and religion, Capoeira & Candombli are today finding their place in society as respected manifestations of culture. THE INDIANS AND THEIR PLIGHT Over 4,000 years ago, an estimated 5 million people inhabited Brazil. They were the legitimate owners of the land. Today there are only 300,000 indigenous people left in 200 different groups who speak 170 languages. In the 1970's, economic moves to 'conquer' the Amazon saw the Indians as a barrier to progress. Roads were built deliberately through Indian reserves, spreading disease and introducing prostitution and alcohol. Indians are united and fighting to get their communal territories officially marked, but are without much success. Loggers and gold prospectors have murdered Ticuna and Yanomami Indians; pollution of rivers leads to further deaths; and cases of violence against Indians have increased in recent years. On the 19th of April 1998, Galdino Pataxs was set on fire and burned to death by middle-class teenagers out 'having fun'. Simultaneously, the Patoxs are being expelled from their ancestral land in Bahia because it is federal territory. They are waiting an expulsion date but are ready to resist. POPULAR RESISTANCE: THE LANDLESS MOVIMENT Although Brazil is the size of Europe and is under-populated, there are 20 million landless peasants. The privileged have exploited the workforce, producing monstrous family and economic land estates. The Landless Movement made up of peasants and landless families, campaigns tirelessly for agrarian reform and for the end of rural violence. Since 1984, more that 22 million acres have been expropriated by the government, owner's compensated, and 131,000 families settled. These small farming communities now have high productivity, new organic crops and incomes higher than the minimum wage. THE POOR MAJORITY All the cities in Brazil have sprawling shanty town areas, homeless families and growing numbers of street children. Many people lack adequate employment, health services and education. Only 50% of school-age children are in school. Hundreds of children per day die from malnutrition-related diseases. Poor people have united to demand proper housing, clean water and other basic services through popular organizations and movements. CHILDREN AT RISK Thousands of children survive on the streets, with approximately one child a day being murdered by death squads. Street children were massacred, while sleeping on the steps of the Canderlaria Church in Rio in 1994. The campaign continues for the police officers involved to be brought to justice. The national Street Children's Movement fights for children's rights and an end to police violence. Local initiatives around the country strive to offer alternative to young people at risk. WOMEN Women are paid inferior wages to men. Young black girls and women are sexually exploited as Sex tourism and the international trafficking of women increase. (Recife, the state capital of Pernambuco is one of the top three cities in the world for child prostitution, along with Manila and Bangkok.) The first Women's Police Station opened in Sco Paulo in 1985. Now there are 150 all over Brazil, mostly dealing with victims of domestic violence. TRADE UNIONS CUT, the national trade union movement, was the strongest in Latin America in the eighties - with over 15 million members, but millions of workers in informal employment continue to have no support. Working conditions are dreadful and accidents common place. It is calculated that between 3 - 4000,000 fingers are lost per years in work accidents. FOREIGN DEBT In the 1960s and 70s Brazil was seen by the world as an economic miracle, with outstanding rates of economic growth, industrialization and urbanization. Foreign loans poured in. During the oil crises of the 70's, Brazil, an oil importer, ended up with a trade deficit. Then the dramatic rise in the US interest rates brought Brazil to a crisis point in foreign debt repayments. The IMF intervened, enforcing strict repayment agreements with no rescheduling of the increasing debt. A number of social movements, NGO's and the Catholic Church are trying to create awareness of the issues around debt by organizing a National Plebiscite for the first week in September. The reproduction of this material is permitted as long as the source is cited. 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