Victory for Guarani-Kaiowa Community of Potrero Guacu
8/6/98
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Victory for Guarani-Kaiowa Community of Potrero Guacu
Source: CIMI via Amanaka'a Amazon Network
Status: Distribute and reprint freely
Date: 8/6/98
Friends,
We just received good news from the Indigenous Missionary Council of Mato
Grosso do Sul: the community of Potrero GuaĜu has won a victory in court and
will stay on their land! We wrote to you two weeks ago, asking for letters
of support for the community. Now, thanks to a court decision and on-the-
ground work by local organizations, combined with international pressure -
the community will stay on their sacred land.
Thanks to all of you who responded to this request for letters and
distributed the information. It is rare that we can see the effects of our
actions so quickly, and it just goes to show how important international
solidarity continues to be. Please continue to respond to urgent action
requests such as this one - your letters DO have an impact. There is still a
lot to be done, but tonight at least, one community can sleep in peace on
their traditional land.
Below please find a translation of CIMI's note.
Best,
Christine Halvorson
Acting Executive Director
Amanaka'a Amazon Network
GUARANI INDIANS WILL NOT BE EVICTED
CIMI-MS, Campo Grande, 8/6/98: The court presiding over an appeal in the case
of the Guarani-Kaiow community of Potrero GuaĜu ruled to allow the community
to stay on their land. C,lio Benavides ruled against the previous decision
[by Federal Judge Jos, Carlos Francisco], which had determined that the
community was to be evicted today, August 6, 1998. Benavides took into
account a study by the Federal Indian Agency-FUNAI, recognizing the area as
indigenous and recommending its demarcation, and repealed the Federal Court's
decision to evict the community.
On July 30, 1998, the 351 people of the community, who had been in the area
since April 19, sent a letter to Federal Judge Jos, Carlos Francisco,
declaring his responsibility in the case of an armed conflict with the
police. They also showed their strong resolve not to leave their land: "We
will not leave our tekoh (sacred land). We will all die here. We don't
want to fight with anyone - so instead of fighting, you authorities, you can
send people to kill us..."
We consider Benavides' decision, which keeps the community on their sacred
land, as another victory for the Guarani, in their constant struggle. It is
also a victory for their national and international partners, who continue to
lend unrestricted support. The Guarani are stronger than ever in this
difficult fight to recuperate part of the land lost to ranchers and through
the negligence of the federal government over the years.
Besides informing you of this victory, we would like to thank all of you who
have supported the struggle of the community of Potero GuaĜu, because as
always your support and pressure have been decisive.
A fraternal embrace and until the next one...
CIMI-MS
Campo Grande, August 6, 1998
Translated by Amanaka'a Amazon Network. Portuguese copy, news clippings from
Mato Grosso do Sul, and materials from CIMI and Survival International (who
translated and distributed CIMI's original alert) are available at our
office.
--
Christine Halvorson
Acting Executive Director
Amanaka'a Amazon Network
60 East 13th Street
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 253 9502
Fax: (212) 253 9507
E-mail: christine@amanakaa.org
Web Page: www.amanakaa.org