DECISION OF BRAZILIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: one more disillusion for Tupinikim and Guarani

DECISION OF BRAZILIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: ONE MORE DISILLUSION

Update Tupinikim and Guarani case, March 2007

Finally, the Minister of Justice Márcio Thomas Bastos took a decision about the land issue of the Tupinikim and Guarani indigenous peoples. But instead of fulfilling his promise, assumed in February 2006 in a public meeting in the state of Espirito Santo to demarcate their traditional lands ´right and fast’, the Minister decided to return the file to FUNAI (National Foundation on Indigenous Issues), requesting that this governmental Foundation should make studies to reconcile the interests of the indigenous peoples and of Aracruz Celulose S/A.

With support of CIMI (Missionary Council for Indigenous Peoples), a protest letter against the decision of the Minister of Justice, has been written, which will be circulated at the National Seminar on Human Rights in Brasilia tomorrow (2^nd of March), in search for support.

We also want to ask you as supporters of the Tupinikim and Guarani indigenous peoples to sign this letter until tomorrow 18 hours (Brazilian time).

This short time period is necessary because next Saturday, 3^rd of March, a General Meeting of the Tupinikim and Guarani will be held, and we want to take this letter of support to the meeting, because during this Assembly the indigenous communities will evaluate and discuss the next coming steps in the fight for their land.

Therefore, it is important that at this moment we, supporters of the Tupinikim and Guarani, show that we are together with them in their struggle!

Confirm your signature by sending an email to: [email protected]

Warm greetings,

Winnie Overbeek – FASE/ES

Geertje van der Pas – CIMI

OPEN PROTEST LETTER AGAINST THE DESISION OF THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, AND IN SUPPORT OF THE TUPINIKIM AND GUARANI IN THE STATE OF ESPÍRITO SANTO

The Tupinikim and Guarani who are occupying the Indigenous Tupinikim and Comboios Lands in the state of Espírito Santo, are fighting for the demarcation of their traditional territory. These two lands have been identified by studies carried out by a Technical Working Group (GT) of Funai in 1997. In spite of these studies, the company Aracruz Celulose S.A. continued the irregular occupation of 11,000 hectares of indigenous lands. Through a recommendation made by the Federal Public Prosecution Service to the President of the Republic and the State Minister of Justice, Funai decided in 2005 to re-open the administrative procedure for the demarcation of the above-mentioned lands, based on the studies of the GT of Funai.

Now, after internal procedures at the Ministry of Justice and more than 120 days passed beyond the legal stated period, the Minister of Justice, instead of signing the Decree to demarcate the indigenous lands, following the recommendations of the Presidency of Funai and the Juridical Consultancy Department of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister decided to return the file to Funai in order to carry out studies to develop a proposal that reconciles the interests of the Tupinikim/Guarani and Aracruz Celulose S.A.

The intention of the Minister points to a further delay of the demarcation of the lands, although Funai can also decide to reconsider the limits proposed before by the Technical Working Group (GT) of Funai. If this will happen, both the Minister and Funai are flagrantly insulting the Brazilian Constitution, because the territorial space proposed by the GT to be demarcated, consists of the elements of a traditionally, by Tupinikim and Guarani occupied, territory, in conformity with what is established in the Brazilian Constitution.

According to article 231, 4th paragraph, of the Federal Constitution, indigenous lands are inalienable and unavailable. The Constitution forbids that neither the Union, nor the indigenous peoples, transfers this native right of the indigenous people to third parties.

Furthermore, all acts that aim the occupation, the domain and the ownership of indigenous lands, by others than indigenous people, are invalid and they do not have any legal consequences, according to article 231, 6^th paragraph, of the Federal Constitution.

Considering the above, those who sign this protest letter against the decision of the State Minister of Justice demand the following:

–          the immediate repeal of the decision that returns the administrative file to Funai, based on the above-mentioned arguments and  being a decision unfavorable to the constitutional and human rights of the Tupinikim and Guarani;

–          the immediate edition of the Decrees that recognize and demarcate the lands of the Tupinikim and Guarani, according to the studies realized by the GTs of the FUNAI.

At the same time, the undersigned demonstrate solidarity and support to the fight of the Tupinikim and Guarani for the recovery of their traditional territory.

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Entidades pedem veto à emenda que prejudica fiscalização do trabalho

Por Iberê Thenório

Quinze entidades envolvidas na defesa dos direitos dos trabalhadores – entre elas a Repórter Brasil – enviaram, nesta segunda-feira (26), uma carta ao presidente Lula pedindo o veto à emenda de projeto de lei que prejudica o combate ao trabalho escravo. No documento, as entidades afirmam que o texto é inconstitucional e contrário ao interesse público, já que não respeita a separação entre poderes e prejudica a atuação dos auditores fiscais do trabalho.

A emenda número 3, contida no projeto de lei que cria a Super Receita, foi aprovada pela Câmara dos Deputados no último dia 13. Ela impede que auditores fiscais do trabalho apontem vínculos empregatícios entre patrões e funcionários quando forem encontradas irregularidades. Segundo a emenda, que aguarda a sanção ou o veto do presidente Lula para ser colocada em prática, apenas a Justiça do Trabalho estaria autorizada a reconhecer esse vínculo.

“O primeiro efeito prático será, de imediato, a suspensão de toda legislação que protege o empregado. Isso porque todo o ato praticado pelo empregador e empregado terá validade jurídica, mesmo que contrário aos princípios básicos do direito trabalhista”, diz um trecho da carta.

Apesar de estar otimista em relação ao veto de Lula, o presidente da Associação Nacional dos Procuradores do Trabalho (ANPT), Sebastião Caixeta, que organizou o documento, afirma que recorrerá à Justiça caso a emenda seja aprovada. “Já conversamos com a OAB [Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil] e Anamatra [Associação Nacional dos Magistrados da Justiça do Trabalho] e pretendemos entrar com uma ação direta de inconstitucionalidade no STF se a emenda não for vetada.”

A carta também foi enviada à ministra-chefe da Casa Civil, Dilma Rousseff, ao ministro da Justiça, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, e ao ministro do Trabalho e Emprego, Luiz Marinho. Assinam o documento a Associação Brasileira dos Advogados Trabalhistas (Abrat), Associação Latino-Americana de Advogados Laboralistas (Alal), Associação Nacional dos Magistrados da Justiça do Trabalho (Anamatra), Associação Nacional dos Auditores Fiscais da Previdência Social (Anfip), Associação dos Juízes Federais (Ajufe), Associação do Ministério Público do Distrito Federal e Territórios (AMPDFT), Associação Nacional do Ministério Público Militar (ANMPM), Associação Nacional dos Procuradores da República (ANPR), Associação Nacional dos Procuradores do Trabalho (ANPT), Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores na Agricultura (Contag), Federação Nacional dos Auditores-Fiscais da Previdência Social (Fenfisp), Associação Luso-Brasileira dos Juristas Trabalhistas (Jutra), Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB), Repórter Brasil, Sindicato Nacional dos Auditores-Fiscais do Trabalho (Sinait) e Sindicato Nacional dos Auditores-Fiscais da Receita Federal (Unafisco).

Leia a íntegra da carta enviada ao presidente Lula

Saiba mais sobre a emenda e o projeto de lei que cria a Super Receita

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CIMI INFO-BRIEF 755

Biotreibstoff: „Volle Tanks und leere Magen“

Die Produktion von Biotreibstoff aus Zuckerrohr, Rizinusbäumen, Kokospalmen und Soja gilt als alternative Wirtschaft für Kleinproduzenten und als Alternative zu fossilem Treibstoff. Die Bedeutung des Biotreibstoffs gewann in den letzten Wochen mit dem Bericht der UNO über die globale Erwärmung an Bedeutung und ist Thema bei den Verhandlungen mit Uruguay über den Weiterverbleib des Landes bei Mercosul. Auch US-Präsident George W. Bush, der anfangs März Brasilien besuchen wird, ist an einer Zusammenarbeit bei der Produktion von Biotreibstoff interessiert.

Beim Seminar Via Campesina über die Ausdehnung der lateinamerikanischen Zuckerrohrindustrie letzte Woche in São Paulo, stellten Vertreter von sozialen Organisationen und Bewegungen in Brasilien, Bolivien, Costa Rica, Kolumbien, Guatemala und der Dominikanischen Republik die Produktion von Biotreibstoff als reine Energie Einkommensquelle für die ländliche Bevölkerung in Frage.

„Das derzeitige Modell der Produktion von Bioenergie zwingt das Volk, natürliche Ressourcen, Land und Arbeitskraft zu binden“, heißt es in einem Brief der Teilnehmer von Via Campesina mit dem Titel „Volle Tanks auf Kosten von leeren Magen“.

„Die brasilianische Regierung fördert auch die Produktion von Biodiesel, vor allem um den Bestand und die Ausweitung der Monokulturen von Soja zu garantieren. Als Rechtfertigung dieser Politik wird die Produktion von Biodiesel durch Kleinproduzenten angeregt und ihr ein „sozialer Stempel“ aufgerückt. Die zerstörerischen Auswirkungen werden verschwiegen. Die Monokulturen dehnen  sich in indigenen Gebieten und anderen Territorien weiter aus“.

Sorgen bereiten die Arbeitsbedingungen auf den Plantagen, auch die der Indios. Vor allem auf den Zuckerrohrplantagen herrscht oftmals Ausbeutung: niedriger Lohn, fehlende Sicherheit, monatelange Trennung von den Aldeias und den Familien.

Allein in Mato Grosso do Sul sind in den nächsten drei Jahren 32 Fabriken geplant, die 51.000 Arbeitsplätze schaffen sollen. Die Produktion von Biodiesel steigt auch im Nordosten des Landes.

Am 28.2.2007 verwies der Präsident der Caritas Brasilien, Bischof Demétrio Valentim bei der Präsentation des Buches „Menschenrechte in Brasilien  – Diagnose und Perspektiven“ auf die Probleme infolge der Monokulturen. „Ständig muss eine Schlacht um die Menschenrechte geführt werden. Bereits erzielte Arbeitsrechte sind gefährdet. Der Biotreibstoff zum Beispiel bedeutet eine Steigerung der Zuckerrohrplantagen, auf denen Arbeitsbedingungen ähnlich der Sklaverei herrschen“, sagte er.

FUNAI sichert dem Volk Karitiana Identifikation des Gebietes Rio Candeias sowie die Kontrolle der anderen Gebiete zu

Das Volk Karitiana in Rondônia ist aufgrund der Untätigkeit der öffentlichen Hand gezwungen, sein Territorium selbst zu verteidigen und gegen Invasoren in ihre Gebiete vorgehen.  Die Gemeinschaft, die 95 km von Porto Velho, der Hauptstadt von Rondônia, entfernt lebt, hat letzte Woche zwei Jugendliche festgehalten, die das Schild zur Aldeia missachteten und sich ohne Erlaubnis Zugang verschafften. Die Jugendlichen wurden von der Bundesstraßenpolizei auf km 45 der BR 364 aufgrund eines verkehrswidrigen Motorrades an der Weiterfahrt gehinderte und so suchten sie eine andere Möglichkeit, um an ihr Ziel zu gelangen.

Am 27.2.2007 wurden die Jugendlichen frei gelassen, nachdem sich die FUNAI zur sofortigen Kontrolle des Gebietes, zum Abschluss der Demarkierung von Rio Candeias und zum Abzug der Invasoren aus dem bereits demarkierten Gebiet Karitiana verpflichtete.

Im November 2006 haben die Karitiana fünf Schürfer festgenommen, die in ihr Gebiet eingedrungen waren und deren Berichten zufolge, sich weitere 50 Schürfer im indigenen Gebiet aufhielten. Die Indios haben die Festgenommenen an die FUNAI und die Polizei übergeben und forderten die Kontrolle ihres Gebietes.

Die Karitiana drängen auf die Identifikation des Gebietes Rio Candeias, das sie 2003 zurück gewonnen haben. Die FUNAI richtete damals eine Arbeitsgruppe für die Identifikation ein. Die Erhebungen wurden aber gestoppt. Fazendeiros spekulieren mit dem Land für Planafloro (Plan für Landwirtschaft und Waldbewirtschaftung in Amazonien), besetzen das Land, zerstören Wälder und heilige Stätten der Indios. Wäre die Identifikation nicht gestoppt worden, könnten diese Übergriffe verhindert werden.

Die Karitiana leiden auch unter mangelnder gesundheitlicher Betreuung seitens der öffentlichen Hand und unter fehlenden Schulen für die Stufen 5 bis 8 sowie für die mittlere Ausbildung.

Brasília, 1. März 2007

CIMI – Indianermissionsrat

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Newsletter n. 753

– Demonstrations are held in defense of the Amazon region and to remind authorities that two years have gone by since Sister Dorothy was murdered
– Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe people will go to Brasília in search of a solution to land conflicts

DEMONSTRATIONS ARE HELD IN DEFENSE OF THE AMAZON REGION AND TO REMIND AUTHORITIES THAT TWO YEARS HAVE GONE BY SINCE SISTER DOROTHY WAS MURDERED

Between February 9 and 12, different social movements staged demonstrations in defense of the Amazon region and against impunity, reminding authorities that two years have gone by since Sister Dorothy Stang was murdered, on February 12, 2005, in Anapu, state of Pará. The demonstrations ended with a hearing granted by the governor of the state, Ana Júlia Carepa.

In Belém, the capital of the state of Pará, the demonstrations began on the 9th with the seminar ‘Building Community Alternatives for the Amazon Region.’ On Sunday, the 11th, donations were collected for the Carlos Prestes camp of the Landless Movement in celebrations held in different Christian churches.

In the morning of the 12th, an ecumenical celebration was held which brought together about 100 people in front of the Court of Justice of the state of Pará. In the afternoon, governor Ana Júlia Carepa convened her secretaries and received representatives of Cimi, of the Land Pastoral Commission, of the Movement of People Affected by Dams, of the Dorothy Stang Committee, and of others organizations. Senator José Nery (PSol Party – state of Pará) and representatives of Incra, Ibama, and the Federal Police also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, a document was delivered to the governor describing the yearnings of social movements in relation to the environment, the land reform, and human rights. The organizations requested protection for threatened people and an investigation into consortia which have been financing murders of human rights supporters. They also urged authorities to fight slave labor diligently and to take steps to ensure the regularization of land areas in the state, which can reduce the conflicts in rural areas. The movements suggested that the federal administration and state governments should act jointly.

In Anapu, the municipality in which the missionary used to work, Father Erwin Kräutler, the bishop of Xingu and president of Cimi, celebrated a mass on the 11th.  In his homily, he recalled that the murder of Sister Dorothy was not an isolated fact. “It was just another bloody event in the Amazon region caused by land grabbing practices, by the deliberate and planned destruction of this region, by the devastating exploitation of its riches, and by those who want to continue to exploit slave labor.” The 12th was declared an official holiday in Anapu by the mayor of the city, who before the crime used to say that Sister Dorothy was a persona non grata there.

In other municipalities in the states of Pará, Maranhão, Ceará and others, demonstrations were also staged in memory of Sister Dorothy.

Murder

Sister Dorothy Stang died after being shot seven times when she was 73 years old in the morning of February 12, 2005 on a remote dirt road at 53 kilometers from the central area of the municipality of Anapu.

Three of the five people accused of having killed the Brazilian-naturalized American missionary have been convicted already. The trial of the two people who are believed to have hired the killers has not been scheduled yet. Farmer Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura, known as Bida, is in prison. The other defendant, farmer Regivaldo Galvão, known as Taradão, is free pending trial.

PATAXÓ HÃ-HÃ-HÃE PEOPLE WILL GO TO BRASÍLIA IN SEARCH OF A SOLUTION TO LAND CONFLICTS

A group of 15 Pataxó Hã-hã-hãe is in Brasília seeking a solution to legal proceedings that affect the lands of these people. Legal decisions have forced the Hã-Hã-Hãe the leave areas that they reoccupied in their traditional territory, located in the south region of the state of Bahia, which was invaded by farmers. The lack of a final solution has been creating conflicts in the region, such as one in which an indigenous person was shot late in January.

On Friday (February 16), the group will have a meeting with the chief justice of the federal court of appeals of the 1st region, justice Assusete Magalhães, to discuss a lawsuit for suspending preliminary orders issued in connection with three farms which were reoccupied in December (California, Bonanza and Ibirapitanga). They have a deadline of 15 days from today (expiring on February 15) to leave those areas. The indigenous leaders say that confrontations could occur with fatal consequences if the preliminary order is enforced within this deadline.

The Pataxó Hã-hã-hãe will ask the justice to suspend the preliminary orders until the Supreme Court (STF) judges a lawsuit requesting the annulment of title deeds issued to farmers who have occupied their land. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has already issued an opinion in favor of suspending the preliminary orders.

Today (February 15), the Pataxó Hã-hã-hãe will have a meeting with the Federal Attorney General, Álvaro Ribeiro, to discuss the lawsuit for nullifying the title deeds mentioned above, which was referred to the Supreme Court 25 years ago. All that is left now is for associate judge Eros Grao, the rapporteur of the proceedings, to take a position in relation to the lawsuit. Today in the morning, the group had a meeting with the acting president of the National Foundation for Indigenous People (Funai) and advisors of the agency to request them to take measures in relation to the situation in the area in question.

Context – The land of the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe people was demarcated in 1937 by the Protection Service for Indigenous People (SPI), which was the official indigenous agency back then. In the 1940s, the same SPI began to lease these indigenous lands illegally and in 1976 the government of the state of Bahia issued title deeds to these lands to farmers. In 1982, the Pataxó organized themselves and began to reoccupy their invaded lands. In the same year, Funai asked the Supreme Court (STF) to annul the title deeds issued by the state of Bahia.

Brasília, February 15, 2006

Indianist Missionary Council

www.cimi.org.br

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Nota de Repúdio à série de reportagens “Amazônia em Perigo” (Jornal do Brasil)

A violência e a mentira têm sido as armas usadas frequentemente contra os indígenas e a população por políticos e empresários de Roraima. Nos últimos 25 anos, mais de 20 indígenas naquele estado foram assassinados e nenhum dos autores e mandantes de tais crimes foi condenado. As agressões acontecem cotidianamente e fazem parte da estratégia para enfraquecer, dividir as comunidades e favorecer a ocupação das terras indígenas por interesses privados.

Ao mesmo tempo em que sofrem ataques pessoais e contra seu patrimônio, os indígenas e a opinião pública são bombardeados por informações falsas, tendenciosas e preconceituosas – como as publicadas em uma série de reportagens veiculadas na última semana de fevereiro pelo Jornal do Brasil. Tal como ocorreu em outras ocasiões, quando a questão indígena em Roraima esteve em destaque na imprensa nacional, os alvos dessa guerra de contra-informação são indígenas, missionários, ONG´s, Fundação Nacional do Índio e outros aliados dos indígenas.

É falsa e tendenciosa, por exemplo, a informação de que “o Governo vai entregar mais um pedaço do Brasil para as tribos indígenas” (JB, 25/02/07, pág.02 – País). A inverdade consiste no fato de que o Governo não está entregando nada aos indígenas. Está, sim, atendendo a determinação constitucional de demarcar, proteger e fazer respeitar todos os bens das terras tradicionalmente ocupadas pelos povos indígenas, segundo os preceitos do artigo 231 da Constituição Federal. As terras são da União, destinadas à posse permanente dos índios e em nada se compara à propriedade privada, como as adquiridas por grandes empresas, grileiros ou pelo latifúndio. O ato da demarcação, atendendo a esse dispositivo, é a confirmação do reconhecimento pelo Estado Brasileiro ao direito dos indígenas muito antes da formação do estado nacional.

Tanto quanto falsos e tendenciosos, vários trechos das reportagens são carregados de preconceito. Os indígenas são apresentados como “brabos” (JB, 25/02/07, Editorial-País), indolentes ou “guerrilheiros”. Pior ainda é que a reportagem reproduz o discurso de conhecidas lideranças políticas de Roraima, que constantemente ocupam as páginas dos jornais para difamar qualquer pessoa ou instituição aliada às organizações e comunidades indígenas. Chega a ser um preconceito e ignorância brutal a suposição de que os indígenas não queiram, nem devam saber quais são e para qual finalidade existem órgãos governamentais, como o Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (Conama).

É lamentável e digno de repúdio o comportamento de meios de comunicação que perseguem a ética do capital em detrimento da ética profissional, que se pauta pela precisa apuração dos acontecimentos e sua correta divulgação. Ainda mais quando se prestam ao serviço de manipular a opinião pública nacional com mentiras.

A sociedade brasileira espera muito mais dos meios de comunicação. A imprensa, de um modo geral, tem contribuído enormemente para a consolidação da democracia no Brasil, atuando de forma vigilante quanto aos interesses nacionais, acompanhando de perto os passos dos administradores públicos, revelando fatos obscuros que atentam contra o patrimônio do povo brasileiro e, na maioria das vezes, servindo de porta voz de todos os cidadãos e cidadãs.

Por isso mesmo toda e qualquer forma de manipulação das informações, divulgação de fatos notadamente tendenciosos e preconceituosos receberá sempre o repúdio da sociedade, como as notícias levianas contra os povos indígenas e seus aliados no estado de Roraima veiculadas pela série de reportagem “Amazônia em Perigo” pelo Jornal do Brasil.

“E conhecereis a verdade, e a verdade vos libertará” (Jô 8:32).

Manaus (AM), 02 de março de 2007

Conselho Indigenista Missionário – CIMI

Regional Norte I – AM/AM

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Newsletter n. 755

– Biofuels: “Full Tanks at the expense of Empty Stomachs”

– Karitiana People secures commitment from Funai to identify the Rio Candeias land and inspect indigenous lands

BIOFUELS: “FULL TANKS AT THE EXPENSE OF EMPTY STOMACHS”

Producing fuels from sugarcane, castor bean, and soybeans – the so-called biofuels – is being proposed as an economic alternative for small farmers and as an alternative to burning fossil fuels, which are expensive and pollute the environment. The topic was much talked-about early in February, after a UN report on global warming was issued, and it was addressed in recent negotiations with Uruguay for the country to remain in the Mercosur and continues to be emphasized in March as one of the topics to be discussed during the visit of the president of the United States of America to Brazil. George W. Bush announced his interest in developing a partnership with Brazil for producing biofuels.

In a letter issued after a seminar of Via Campesina on the growth of the sugarcane industry in Latin America that was held in São Paulo last week, representatives of social organizations and movements from Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic challenged the discourse according to which biofuel is a clean energy that can generate income for rural populations in Brazil. “The current bioenergy production model is based on the same elements that have always brought oppression to indigenous people: appropriation of territories, of natural goods, of the labor force,” said Via Campesina in the letter, which is called “Full Tanks at the expense of Empty Stomachs.”

“The Brazilian government is now encouraging the production of biodiesel also, mainly to ensure the survival and expansion of soybean monoculture in large areas. With the aim of legitimizing this policy and disguising its devastating effects, the government has been encouraging the diversified production of biodiesel by small farmers for the purpose of creating the so-called “social seal.” Monoculture is increasing in indigenous areas and other territories of original indigenous people,” he added.

One of the main concerns is with working conditions in farms. And this includes the use of indigenous labor which, particularly in sugarcane plantations, often faces conditions similar to slavery: low pay, no safety, long months away from their villages and homes.

In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul alone, there are projects to set up 32 ethanol plants over the next three years, with promises of 51,000 new jobs and credit lines from BNDES (National Economic and Social Development Bank). Biofuel crops are also increasing in the Brazilian northeast region.

On Wednesday, February 28, the president of the Brazilian Cáritas, Bishop Demétrio Valentim, recalled problems created by monoculture for workers during a ceremony for launching the book  Direitos Humanos no Brasil 2 – Diagnósticos e Perspectivas (Human rights in Brazil 2 – Diagnosis and Prospects). He mentioned sugarcane plantations as examples of areas where even ensured rights – such as labor rights – can be threatened. “The battle for human rights must be continually supported. A clear example is that of labor rights, which have been ensured already but are threatened. Biofuel, for example, leads to larger sugarcane plantations, where working conditions are similar to the ones experienced during the slavery period,” he said.

To read the full letter of Via Campesina, clique here.

KARITIANA PEOPLE SECURES COMMITMENT FROM FUNAI TO IDENTIFY THE RIO CANDEIAS LAND AND INSPECT INDIGENOUS LANDS

The Karitiana people in the state of Rondônia are being forced to defend their territory themselves. The absence of public authorities there forces them to take action to prevent invaders and miners from invading indigenous lands. Last week, these people, who live at a distance of 95 km from Porto Velho, the capital of the state of Rondônia, spotted two young people entering their village without authorization who had disregarded signs indicating that it is an indigenous land. The youths told the Karitiana that they were trying to avoid a Federal Highway Police station located at km 45 of the BR 364 highway, as they didn’t have the required documents for the motorcycle they were using.

They were allowed to leave the area on March 27 in the afternoon, after the Karitiana secured a commitment from the National Foundation for Indigenous People that it would inspect their land to try to find invaders in them as an urgent matter and would complete the demarcation of the Rio Candeias indigenous land and remove occupants and invaders from the already-demarcated land of the Karitiana.

In November of last year, the Karitiana caught five miners invading their land, who told them that there were 50 other miners inside the area. On that occasion, they turned the invaders over to Funai and to the police, demanding an inspection in their territory.

The Karitiana want the Rio Candeias land, which they reoccupied in 2003, to be identified as an indigenous land. On that occasion, Funai set up a working group to identify the land, but the required surveys for this purpose have not advanced. Farmers who produced illegal title deeds to that land when the PLANAFLORO (Agriculture/livestock and Forest Plan for the Amazon Region) was launched continue to occupy the territory and destroy forests there, as well as vestiges of indigenous presence and sacred places for the Karitiana. This destruction could be avoided if the process for identifying the land had not been stalled since 2003.

Besides inspection problems, the Karitiana suffer with the absence of public authorities: Without having completed all grades of the second segment of elementary education (5th to 8th grade) and secondary education, many young people have moved to cities; the health care available to them is also precarious.

Brasília, March 1, 2007

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Informe n. 755 – Biocombustíveis: “Tanques Cheios às custas de Barrigas Vazias”

– Biocombustíveis: “Tanques Cheios às custas de Barrigas Vazias”

– Povo Karitiana consegue compromisso da Funai para identificação da terra rio Candeias e para fiscalização de terras

BIOCOMBUSTÍVEIS: “TANQUES CHEIOS ÀS CUSTAS DE BARRIGAS VAZIAS”

A produção de combustíveis a partir da cana, mamona, dendê e soja – os biocombustíveis –  vem sendo apresentada como alternativa econômica para pequenos produtores e como alternativa à queima de combustíveis fósseis, caros e poluidores. O assunto ganhou fôlego no início de fevereiro, após a divulgação de pesquisas da ONU sobre o aquecimento global, fez parte das negociações com o Uruguai para que o país continuasse no Mercosul, e segue no centro dos debates neste início de março, como um dos temas da visita do presidente dos Estados Unidos da América ao Brasil. George W. Bush. já anunciou seu interesse em estabelecer parceria com o Brasil para a produção de biocombustíveis.

Em carta do seminário da Via Campesina sobre a expansão da indústria da cana na América Latina realizado em São Paulo na última semana, representantes de entidades e movimentos sociais do Brasil, Bolívia, Costa Rica, Colômbia, Guatemala e República Dominicana questionam o discurso que coloca o biocombustivel como energia limpa e capaz de gerar renda para as populações do campo no Brasil. “O atual modelo de produção de bioenergia é sustentado nos mesmos elementos que sempre causaram a opressão de nossos povos: apropriação de território, de bens naturais, de força de trabalho.”, afirma a Via Campesina, na carta intitulada “Tanques Cheios às custas de Barrigas Vazias”.

“O governo brasileiro passa a estimular também a produção de biodiesel, principalmente para garantir a sobrevivência e a expansão de grandes extensões de monocultivo da soja. Para legitimar essa política e camuflar seus efeitos destruidores, o governo estimula a produção diversificada de biodiesel por pequenos produtores, com o objetivo de criar o “selo social”. As monoculturas  têm se expandido em áreas indígenas e em outros territórios de povos originários”, completam.

Uma das principais preocupações é sobre as condições de trabalho nas plantações. E isto inclui o uso de mão de obra indígena que, sobretudo em plantações de cana, muitas vezes enfrenta condições de trabalho semelhantes à escravidão: com baixa remuneração, sem segurança, meses longe das aldeias e famílias.

Só no Mato Grosso do Sul, há previsão de implantação de 32 usinas de álcool, nos próximos três anos, com promessa de geração de 51 mil postos de trabalho e crédito do BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social). As lavouras para biocombustíveis crescem também no nordeste brasileiro.

Nesta quarta-feira, 28 de fevereiro, o presidente da Cáritas Brasileira, Dom Demétrio Valentim, lembrou dos problemas gerados pela monocultura para a vida dos trabalhadores, durante o lançamento do livro “Direitos Humanos no Brasil 2 – Diagnósticos e Perspectivas”. Ele usou as plantações de cana como exemplo de espaços onde mesmo os direitos já conquistados – como os direitos trabalhistas – podem ser ameaçados. “A batalha pelos direitos humanos precisa ser sustentada continuamente. Um exemplo claro é o dos direitos trabalhistas, direitos que já foram conquistados mas que são ameaçados. O biocombustível, por exemplo, traz o aumento das plantações de cana, onde as condições de trabalho ainda são próximas às da escravidão”, disse.

Para ver a carta da Via Campesina na íntegra, clique aqui.

POVO KARITIANA CONSEGUE COMPROMISSO DA FUNAI PARA IDENTIFICAÇÃO DA TERRA RIO CANDEIAS E PARA FISCALIZAÇÃO DE TERRAS

O povo Karitiana, em Rondônia, é obrigado a defender seu território. A ausência do poder público faz com que este grupo tenha que impedir, ele mesmo, a entrada de invasores e garimpeiros em terras indígenas. Na última semana, este grupo, que vive há 95 km de Porto Velho, capital de Rondônia, deteve dois jovens que entraram na aldeia sem autorização, desrespeitando as placas que sinalizam a terra indígena. Os jovens informaram aos Karitiana que tentavam evitar passar pela Polícia Rodoviária Federal, no Km 45 da BR 364, pois sua moto estava irregular.

Os jovens foram libertados na tarde de 27 de março, após os Karitiana terem conseguido, da Fundação Nacional do Índio, o compromisso de realizar urgente fiscalização na terra e de concluir a demarcação da terra indígena do Rio Candeia e a retirada de ocupantes e invasores da já demarcada terra indígena Karitiana.

Em novembro passado, os Karitiana detiveram cinco garimpeiros invasores de sua terra, que contaram haver outros 50 garimpeiros no interior da área. Nesta ocasião, entregaram os invasores detidos à Funai e à Polícia, exigindo a fiscalização de seu território.

Os Karitiana pedem a identificação da terra indígena do Rio Candeias, retomada por eles desde 2003. Naquele momento, a Funai criou o Grupo de Trabalho para identificação da terra, mas as pesquisas estão paralisadas. Fazendeiros que grilaram esta terra em pleno funcionamento do PLANAFLORO (Plano Agropecuário e Florestal da Amazônia) seguem ocupando o território e destruindo florestas, vestígios da ocupação indígena e lugares sagrados do povo Karitiana. A destruição poderia ser evitada se o processo de identificação da terra não estivesse paralisado desde 2003.

Além dos problemas com fiscalização, os Karitiana convivem com a ausência do poder público: sem atendimento a todas as séries do segundo segmento de ensino fundamental (5ª a 8ª) e ensino médio, muitos jovens estão nas cidades; também recebem atendimento precário à saúde.

Brasília, 1 de março de 2007

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Raposa Serra do Sol em pauta na Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA)

O Conselho Indígena de Roraima tem audiência marcada na Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos (CIDH) da Organização dos Estados Americanos (OEA). No próximo dia 1 de março, a advogada Joenia Wapichana estará em Washington (Estados Unidos), para tratar com representantes do Estado Brasileiro sobre medidas eficazes de proteção dos direitos indígenas dos povos que vivem na terra indígena Raposa Serra do Sol.

Entre as medidas concretas a serem solicitadas, por intermédio da CIDH, ao Estado Brasileiro, destaca-se a retirada de todos os ocupantes não-índios do interior da área Raposa Serra do Sol. A medida enfoca principalmente os rizicultores, já que suas presenças e atividades representam danos ambientais à reserva e ameaçam a integridade física e moral das comunidades e seus membros.

A demora na assinatura do decreto presidencial de homologação da terra indígena Raposa Serra do Sol e a grave situação de violência e violação de direitos fundamentais dos povos indígenas da RSS levaram o Conselho Indígena de Roraima e a organização Rainforest Foundation a apresentar, em 2004, uma petição solicitando medidas cautelares à Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos da OEA.

Atendendo ao pedido, em 6 de dezembro de 2004, a CIDH recomendou ao Governo Brasileiro quatro medidas cautelares: 1) Proteger a vida e a integridade pessoal dos Povos Indígenas Ingaricó, Macuxi, Patamona, Taurepang e Wapichana, respeitando sua identidade cultural e sua especial relação com o território ancestral; 2) Assegurar que os beneficiários possam continuar a habitar suas comunidades, sem nenhum tipo de agressão, coação ou ameaça; 3) Abster-se de restringir ilegalmente o direito de livre circulação dos membros dos Povos Indígenas Ingaricó, Macuxi, Patamona, Taurepang e Wapichana; 4) Investigar séria e exaustivamente os fatos que motivaram o pedido de medidas cautelares

Apesar da homologação da terra indígena, em 15 de abril de 2005, os povos indígenas em questão continuam sendo vitimas de inúmeras violações de seus direitos. Desde o protocolo da petição inicial, até a presente data, já foram apresentadas diversas comunicações à CIDH informando sobre a crescente onda de violência contra as pessoas, contra o patrimônio e as instituições indígenas na RSS: seqüestros de índios e autoridades; ameaças de morte; bloqueios de estradas, incêndios criminosos; novas invasões por não-índios; e interferências nas formas de organização indígena, inclusive com restrição de atividades sociais.

Nessa audiência, a Comissão deverá apreciar a situação atual do caso e seu eventual encaminhamento à Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos, instância superior com competência para proferir uma sentença judicial internacional. O que se espera da audiência é que a CIDH adote medidas imediatas em favor dos povos indígenas e determine a implementação total do Decreto de homologação, em razão da continuada violação de direitos humanos dos povos indígenas da Raposa Serra do Sol.

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Newsletter n. 754

– Transposition of the São Francisco river: Bishop Cappio asks president Lula to resume dialogue
– Leader of the Borari people is assaulted in Santarém

Transposition of the São Francisco River: Bishop Cappio asks president Lula to resume dialogue

In the morning of this Thursday, the 22nd, Bishop Luiz Flavio Cappio sent a new letter to the Planalto Place (where the office of the President of the Republic is located) requesting president Lula to resume the dialogue with civil society on the project to transpose the São Francisco river. “The government continues to assume the authoritarian position of imposing a project that has not been discussed with society and with people living on the banks of the São Francisco river. A dialogue was started, we had meetings in Brasília already. But we need to expand this dialogue and society at large needs to take part in the discussions. This discussion should not be restricted to the elite,” said the bishop, who in September 2005 made a hunger strike for 10 days to challenge the transposition project.

The legality of the environmental license issued for the project to be implemented is also being questioned by social organizations and by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. They say that no reliable survey of environmental and social impacts caused by the transposition project has been carried out.

On February 12, the federal attorney general, Antonio Fernando Souza, filed an appeal with the Supreme Court requesting the suspension of the environmental license issued for the transposition project and the revocation of a prior license issued by the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) for the same purpose.

In his appeal, the general attorney insists that the requirement that the National Congress and indigenous populations affected by the project should be consulted about the utilization of natural resources in indigenous lands must be complied with.

The appeal will be analyzed by the 11 justices of the Supreme Court. A final judicial decision on the project will only be issued after this analysis is carried out.

In December of last year, a decision of justice Sepúlveda Pertence, of the Supreme Court, annulled preliminary orders which prevented the beginning of the transposition project and, in January 2007, the Federal Government announced that the Engineering Battalion of the Army – which can be designated to carry out engineering works without a tender process – would begin to implement the project. The minister for National Integration, Pedro Brito, said that he R$  90 million had been transferred to the Ministry of Defense for the engineering works to begin.

Leader of the Borari people is assaulted in Santarém

Chief Odair José Borari, known as Dadá, was assaulted and injured by three unknown men in Santarém (state of Pará), in the morning of Monday, the 19th. The attack took place in a street near the office of the Indigenous Awareness Group (GCI) and of the Indigenous Council of the Tapajós and Arapiuns rivers (CITA), in the downtown area of the city. Odair is the coordinator of CITA and the chief of the Novo Lugar Village.

He was approached and assaulted by three men wearing hoods who were riding motorcycles and carried a gun and knives.

Odair had been receiving death threats and he had reported them to the Federal Police and to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. The community headed by Odair in the Nova Olinda area, located on the banks of the Maró river, has been denouncing the invasion of its lands, the existence of false title deeds to them, and the illegal exploitation of timber in the region. According to Odair, the death threats are related to land disputes.

The situation of indigenous people in the region is aggravated by the fact that Funai has not been complying with requests to demarcate the land of the Borari community in Nova Olinda. “The threats had been reported to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office already. We reported them a month ago and I requested protection to the Federal Police for me and for the CITA main office. So far, I haven’t seen any measures being taken for this purpose. The Attorney General said that there was nothing he could do, because he had not received any report from Funai confirming that we are indigenous people. And Funai took no measures to identify our lands so far,” Odair said.

The assault was registered with the Civil Police and a corpus delicti examination was made in Odair. (Based on information provided by brother Florêncio Vaz in Santarém)

Brasília, February 22, 2007

Cimi – Indianist Missionary Council

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