From Greenpeace
October 10, 2001

Brasilia, Brazil: Greenpeace today vowed that a death threat to one of its campaigners would not deter the environmental organisation from working to protect the Amazon from destruction.

Last week, a telephone call was made to a house where Greenpeace campaigners live and work in Manaus, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, threatening death to Paulo Adario, the Coordinator of Greenpeace’s Amazon Campaign. “This is not only a serious threat against my life but, of greater importance, it is a threat to all people who campaign to protect the Amazon,” said Paulo Adario at a press conference in Brasilia. “It is clear that our recent work exposing illegal logging of mahogany in the Amazon is at the base of this threat. In Brazil it is well known that most of the mahogany trade is controlled by criminals, who for to long have been allowed to operate with impunity. ” On September 26th Greenpeace released fresh evidence of extensive illegal logging deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Photographs and video images from a recent aerial reconnaissance by Greenpeace clearly showed sophisticated logging operations in lands belonging to the Amazon’s Kayapó Indians, an area where logging is strictly prohibited. Satellite images obtained by Greenpeace also revealed details of these operations. This information was delivered to the Federal Prosecutor in Brasilia, along with Greenpeace’s call for a full investigation.

In a bid to stop the opening of the forest by mahogany loggers, the Brazilian Government in 1996 enacted a moratorium on new mahogany logging ventures. But, based on Greenpeace’s new information, several companies appear to be using false papers to cover up their illegal logged operations on adjacent Kayapó Indian property.

“The Amazon region is known for violence against those who work to defend it. We will do everything in our power to protect our people in the Amazon, but we will not be intimidated into stopping our work. We will not be silenced,” said Marijane Lisboa, Executive Director of Greenpeace Brazil.

In one recent and tragic example, on August 25th the Coordinator of the Movement for the Development of the Transamazon and Xingu Region (MDTX), Ademir Alfeu Federicci (Dema), was killed by a gunman in his home in Altamira, in the Brazilian Amazon state of Para. Dema unsuccessfully defended himself and was shot in the head in front of his wife and children. Dema was an active leader in the resistance to the construction of dams planned by the Brazilian government on the Xingu River, and an opponent of illegal logging in the region. Brazil’s Minister of Justice, Jose Gregori, said Tuesday that he was outraged over the treat to Mr. Adario’s life. In a private meeting with Mr. Adario he committed his Ministry to action, and said he will instructed the Federal Police to immediately launch an intensive investigation.

Brazil’s Minister of Environment, Jose Sarney Filho, also expressed deep concern. “I would like to say that I take the death threat made to the Greenpeace member as if it was directed to me. That is because Greenpeace does nothing less than what we do. That is why they have all my support in assuring the physical safety of the Greenpeace Campaigner. The partnership between the Ministry and Greenpeace is long standing and has brought many results, reducing the huge illegal operations in that region".

On Monday, Jose Carlos Dias, former Minister of Justice of Brazil and a prominent human rights activist, voluntarily stepped forward to pledge his full support for Paulo Adario and Greenpeace.

Amazonino Mendes, the Governor of Brazil’s Amazonas State, said that he would give all possible guarantees for the safety of Mr. Adario, so that the work of Greenpeace can continue in the Amazon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Marjane Lisboa, Executive Director, Greenpeace Brazil ++55 11 9169 7956 Gerd Leipold, Executive Director, Greenpeace International ++ 31 20 523 6222 Paulo Adario, Greenpeace Amazon Campaign Coordinator ++55 92 9985 5001 Tica Minami, Greenpeace Brazil Press Officer ++55 11 9900 7796

Lucas Freitas, Greenpeace International Press Officer ++55 92 9603 4801 Susan Cavanagh, Greenpeace International Press Officer ++55 92 9984 1366

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Photo and video of the illegal Amazon logging operations and of Paulo Adario are available from Greenpeace International: Photo: +31 205 249 580, Video: +31 205 249 543 Error: Unable to read footer file.