Geneva, 2 February 2010 – The UN, the ILO and the World Council of Churches received the delegation from “Campaign Opará – Indigenous Peoples in defense of the Rio São Francisco” on February 1. The ILO has already requested clarification by the Brazilian government concerning violations of Convention 169 in the implementation of the works for the Transposition of the Rio São Francisco.

 

The delegation from the Northeast region was received in the Wilson Palace of the Untied Nations. Participating in the audience were assessors of the rapporteurs of the High Commission on Human Rights, such as the rapporteur for Human Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, the rapporteur for the Right to Water and to Sanitation. Also participating were the assessor to the rapporteur for human rights, responsible for Latin America; Executive Directors for the Civil Society Unit, representatives of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169; Coordinator of the of the program for monitoring of Isolated Peoples; among others. All received the report of denunciation “Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast impacted by the Transposition of the São Francisco river”.

 

Violations already well-known

In fact, the representatives of these international entities are already aware of the human rights violations occurring with Transposition of the Rio São Francisco. The reports have already been presented to the ILO in September of 2008. The delegation traveled to Geneva to reinforce and update these reports. The commission of experts of the ILO accompanies the case and in March of 2009 issued a statement regarding the violations, requesting clarification by the Brazilian government by the end of 2009. The request for clarification on violations because Brazil signed Convention 169 of the ILO, committing to respect of human rights assured by this international treaty. However the Lula government has not provided a response to this request.

In the mean time the Transposition works advance, in the indigenous territory, and the socio-environmental damages become irreparable.

Representatives of the ILO commented that the current reports presented by the delegation are very important.

 

Concern

The Special Rapporteur of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, visited Brazil in August of 2008. Following the visit he published his report, with recommendations for the Brazilian government to improve position of the Indigenous peoples. Anaya will return in 2012 to monitor the evolution of the conditions of the indigenous peoples in Brazil.

 

Disrespect

“The Brazilian government does not respect its own legislation, the Federal Constitution and the international treaties such as Convention 169 of the ILO”, noted Uilton Santos, Cacique of the Tuxá people and president of APOINME. “The state denies the right to prior consultation and to the free and informed consent of the indigenous peoples.” This occurs not only in the case of the Transposition, but with many projects of development that the Lula government is implementing through the PAC. “These projects have a grave socio-environmental impact on the indigenous territories, influencing the indigenous identities, to the point of raising the risk of extinction of the uncontacted or isolated peoples”.

Edilene Bezerra Pajeu, the Pretinha of the Truká people, called attention to the assassinations of leaders who struggle for the right to land and water and against the Transposition. These assassinations had also already been denounced at the UN in 2005. Specifically the cases of Dena and Jorge Truká, killed by 4 police agents who remain unpunished. “Anyone not murdered is criminalized by the judiciary itself, lives constantly threatened and responds to many charges. One example of this is Cacique Neguinho. When he reported the assassination of Mozeni, he was jailed at the police station.”

 

Civil Society

On Monday the delegation had a public meeting with organizations of civil society and NGOs headquartered in Geneva, such as Terrabrasilis, E-Changer, AYA, SIT and Terre des Hommes. On that occasion a presentation on the violations to the human rights of the indigenous peoples occurring from the Transposition and other large-scale development projects on indigenous lands, with the example of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant. In closing, the delegation presented the petition in which the Brazilian Supreme Court ministers are asked that they judge pending actions relative to the Transposition.

 

APOINME petition:

http://www.apoinme.org.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=72

 

 

On February 3, the delegation visits Brussels, Belgium, afterward traveling to Berlin, Germany.

 

More information on the Delegation’s European visit:

 

CIMI   (Brasília)            55/61/2106 1666            Paul Wolters (English) / Maíra Heinen (Port.)

CIMI Europa                39/33 3634 8279            Martina (coordinator of the trip)

 

Indigenous Peoples involved in the Campaign Opará and contacts:

 

Povo Truká                           55/87/ 9606 6065            Cacique Neguinho

Povo Tumbalalá                   55/87/ 9131 0008            Cacique Cícero

APOINME                             55/75/ 8815 0715            Dipeta Tuxá

 

Organizations and contacts for the Campaign Opará and the Report of denunciation on the Transposition:

 

CPP / NE                                55/75/8835 3113            Alzeni Tomaz

AATR                                      55/71/3329 7393            André