Once Again FUNAI and INCRA Put Pataxo and Landless Workers in a State
of Conflict
7/2/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Once Again FUNAI and INCRA Put Pataxo and Landless Workers
in a State of Conflict
Source: SEJUP, Servico Brasileiro de Justica e Paz
http://www.oneworld.org/sejup/
Status: Distribute freely with credit given to source
Date: July 2, 1999
In this week's issue:
SPECIAL
- Once again FUNAI and INCRA put Pataxo and landless
workers in a state of conflict
NEWS BRIEFS
- Catholic Church accuses government of omission in land
conflicts
- Trial for Eldorado do Carajas massacre to begin in August
- Government offers R$700 million to Ford [deleted]
- Sao Paulo city council dismisses two members [deleted]
SPECIAL
- Once again FUNAI and INCRA put Patax˘ and landless workers in a state of conflict
The lack of measures by governmental agencies in the extreme south of
Bahia has once again created a conflict between Indians and landless
laborers. This week, 25 families of the Patax˘ from the village of
Aguas Belas, occupied one of the plots of land in the area where the
National Institute for Agrarian Reform and Settlement (Incra)
illegally settled workers associated with the Landless Rural Workers
Movement (MST) in 1996. This time some rural workers threatened to
react. The clash was controlled by a new agreement between the Patax˘
and leaders of the MST, in which the Indians agreed to wait one week
for the establishment of a working group that will carry out a study
of the area. If this does not take place, the Patax˘ say that "we are
willing to remove the workers even if it costs us our lives". The
stand by the indigenous leaders was communicated to the Ministry of
Justice, Funai and the Congressional Committee on Human Rights, in
BrasĦlia. This is one more illegal settlement performed by the
government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso within indigenous territory.
The rural workers' plots expropriated by Incra are located between
the villages of Aguas Belas and Corumbauzinho. In August of last
year, the community of Corumbauzinho, located in the city of Prado,
occupied part of this area, in the location where the settlement
project, called Corumbau, was being implanted. The deadlock started
after this action. Incra and Funai, therefore, promised to establish
a Technical Working Group to begin the land survey of the area. The
landless workers left the indigenous area under the pledge that the
two agencies would resolve the matter. The only reason a greater
conflict did not occur is due to the articulation carried out by
organizations and the historical alliance among the Indians and the
landless workers who mutually respect one another.
In December of last year, the climate turned tense as a result of the
slowness by Funai and Incra. Finally, another agreement was made with
the Indians to not advance upon other plots of land. The landless
workers, on their part, agreed to give up any claim on the location,
as long as the land was identified as indigenous. They requested
that Incra examine other expropriated areas for their re-settlement.
"We declare that everything that has been happening is the
responsibility of Incra and Funai. Any violence that happens in our
community is the fault of the federal government which has done
nothing to demarcate our lands," said the Patax˘. In the document
sent to the official agencies in BrasĦlia, the Patax˘ from Aguas
Belas made it clear that they are losing their patience. Together
with the village of Corumbauzinho, the Patax˘ from Aguas Belas
declared that they are going to fight for the traditional area. "We
decided to recover our land that was invaded".
The reclaimed area totals approximately 1,200 hectares, where the
indigenous peoples say an indigenous cemetery exists. The Settlement
Project of Corumbau implanted by Incra illegally placed in the local
nearly 100 families with ties to the Landless Rural Workers Movement.
The Movement recognizes the rights of the Patax˘, blame the official
agencies, but claim that they will only leave the territory when
there is another location for the settlement of the rural workers.
Newsletter n§ 363
BrasĦlia, June 2, 1999.
Indian Missionary Council - Cimi
NEWS BRIEFS
- Catholic Church accuses government of omission in land conflicts
The president of the CNBB (Bishop's Conference of the
Brazilian Catholic Church) Dom Jayme Chemello accused the federal
government of being negligent in relation to the violence that is
happening to landless workers, especially those in the state of
Paran . The government of the state of Paran also is turning a
blind eye toward the "barbarities" being committed by the police
(evictions done in the middle of the night, tents being burned, 41
MSTers in prison, various wounds and accusations of torture).
The Congressional Commission of Human Rights and Amnesty
International have also accused Paran state governor Jaime Lerner of
breaking an agreement made in April which states that land evictions
would only be done during daylight hours.
Television coverage last week showed three land evictions which were
done in the middle of the night on May 7, 21 and 23, 1999.
Dom Chemello went on to critique the federal government for
sending resources to help out failed banks, while taking away tax-
exempt status from non-profit hospitals and schools.
The bishop said that his objective is not to oppose the government,
but only to care for that part of the population which is in most
need.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
June 26, 1999
- Trial for Eldorado do Carajas massacre to begin in August
The trial of 150 police officers accused of massacring 19
landless workers in the state of Par will begin on August 16 and
will last until December 3, said the judge of the case, Ronaldo
Ville. Judge Ville divided the trial into 27 sessions which will
happen every Monday and Friday until the end of the trial. The MST
(Movement of those Without Land) has called upon 40 lawyers connected
with the movement to witness the trial, and will have demonstrations
throughout the duration of the trial.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
June 26, 1999
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