Ten faces of the struggle for human rights Brasília, in Brazil DECEMBER/2013 Published by the United Nations in Brazil. This publication is the result of a partnership between the United Nations System in Brazil, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency (SDH) and the Delegation of the European Union in Brazil.
© United Nations, 2012 This work can be reproduced in part or completely, provided that the source is acknowledged and that it is not for sale or for any commercial purpose. Printed in Brazil.
Editor: Aline Falco Technical review: UN, Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Grammar review: Reinaldo Reis Cover and graphic design: Flávia Coelho Photos: Raphael Carmona / Iluminart
Department of Human Rights of the Presidency and EU, 2012. 100p.
ISBN: 978-85-7652-177-8
1. Human Rights 2. Right to Land 3. Right to Housing 4. Crime Prevention The presentation of the facts contained in this publication, and the views expressed herein, are not necessarily those 5. Civil Rights — Indigenous Peoples 6. Civil Rights — Quilombolas 7. Civil Rights — of the UN, of the Embassy of the Netherlands, of the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency and of the Delegation Prisoners 8. Civil Rights — Juvenile Delinquency 10. Civil Rights — Fishermen of the European Union, nor do they compromise these organizations. The names indicated and the material presented throughout this publication do not entail the expression of any opinion whatsoever by the organizations concerning the 11. Brazil I. United Nations 2 legal status of any country, territory, city, region or authorities therefrom, nor do they delimit their frontiers or boundaries. 3 SUMMARY
Introductions...... 7 Minister-Chief of the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency, Mrs. Maria do Rosário Nunes...... 8 Ambassador of the Netherlands in Brazil, Mr. Kees Rade...... 10 UN Resident Coordinator in Brazil, Mr. Jorge Chediek...... 12 Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union, Mrs. Ana Paula Zacarias...... 13
The UN and protection of human rights defenders...... 14
Brazil and the protection of defenders of human rights...... 16
Ten faces of the struggle for human rights in Brazil...... 19 • Alexandre Anderson de Souza...... 20 • Eliseu Lopes...... 26 • Evane Lopes...... 30 • Gleydson Gleber Bento Alves de Lima Pinheiro...... 36 • João Luís Joventino do Nascimento...... 42 • Júlio César Ferraz de Souza ...... 50 • Leonora Brunetto...... 56 • Maria Joel Dias...... 62 • Rosivaldo Ferreira Dias...... 68 • Saverio Paolillo...... 74
Acknowledgements...... 82 4 5 INTRODUCTIONS
6 7 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
he Secretariat of Human Rights of the The Secretariat of Human Rights of the Pres- Presidency (SDH/PR) is pleased to idency has been tirelessly seeking to overcome Tpresent the book Ten faces of the struggle the causes that generate situations of risk and for human rights in Brazil. This publication threat. Such action comprises a combination of is the result of a virtuous partnership with the measures and actions with the Executive, Legis- European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of lative and Judiciary, and with the organized civil the Netherlands and the United Nations System society. in Brazil. In addition, the Secretariat of Human Rights The ten defenders featured in this publica- of the Presidency works to consolidate a policy tion, who tell us about their lives and work in to protect human rights defenders by building a the promotion and defense of human rights, are protection system for people who are threatened. leaders giving a voice to many Brazilians who are Regulatory frameworks are being created to as- engaged in the struggle against arbitrariness, sure institutionalization and guarantee its perma- violence, injustice and inequality. They represent nence as part of the actions of the Brazilian State all the defenders included and monitored by the for the protection of human rights. National and State Programs for the Protec- tion of Human Rights Defenders. This policy of Having no peer in other nations, the Program protection of persons represents the effort and for the Protection of Defenders of Human Rights commitment of the Brazilian State with the full aims to expose the just struggles of each of achievement of these rights. these people and their communities. In addition, it aims to emphatically state that the fact that we The adoption of the National Policy for the still have to deal with threats to people because Protection of Defenders of Human Rights, in of their dedication to strengthen our democracy 2007, through Decree 6044, by the then Pres- and the consolidation of human rights is unac- ident Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the continuity ceptable. of this action by President Dilma Rousseff, is a decisive step in the consolidation of the Brazilian Thus, this book aims to be another tool in this democracy. And this democracy, as well as the quest for exposure. We also wish that it may in- Rule of Law, is an essential achievement of men fluence and encourage other nations to protect and women who, in their turn, faced the most evil their citizens in the struggle against the loss of forces, even paying with their own lives by daring rights currently in place and/or in the pursuit of to be defenders of Human Rights. affirmation of rights not yet recognized in their legislation. Unfortunately, many of the threats to life and physical integrity of these people persist in our Finally, I stress once again the importance society, whether by action of agents of the State of joint efforts of the State, civil society, human or by private hands. It is our commitment to tack- rights defenders and every citizen to the consol- le the sources of these threats by inhibiting and idation of the Brazilian State as a strong nation penalizing perpetrators of violations. But this is where human rights of all people are the pillars also one of our biggest challenges. As well as se- of our democratic environment. curing that human rights defenders can continue their daily struggle safely. Maria do Rosário Nunes Minister of State, Chief of the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency 8 9 INTRODUCTIONS
he Embassy of the Kingdom of the This publication, which is part of the imple- of the Dutch policy on the matter. Our goal is to Netherlands in Brazil has the honor mentation of this policy in Brazil, features inter- cooperate as much as possible with the Brazilian Tto present the stories of Júlio, Evane, views with ten Brazilian human rights defenders. authorities, the European Union and its Member Rosivaldo, Eliseu, Maria Joel, Gleydson, João All these interviews are exceptional; even ex- States and with entities of the United Nations Luís, Alexandre, Saverio and Leonora. These traordinary. Publication is a way to appreciate System to assist in the activities of human rights human rights defenders play essential roles in these people and the solid work they do; it allows defenders. Through this publication, we are put- the protection of fundamental freedoms in Brazil us to make their struggles public, emphasizing ting this strategy into practice. and in mobilizing people, aimed at achieving the courage they show every day in their lives improvements in the interest of society as a and in their efforts to improve human rights to We hope readers can take advantage of the whole. The courage they show every day in their society as a whole. informational interviews and documentation that lives calls for our respect and practical support. make up this publication and that, having ac- That is why the Dutch human rights policy has as In this sense, the Special Secretariat for Hu- quired a better understanding of the struggle of a priority to promote the work of these men and man Rights of the Presidency is deserving of these brave women and men, find ways to help women. our appreciation and support, given that, for the them in their fight. last fifteen years, it has been working tirelessly The Netherlands will do its utmost to highlight to implement, promote and ensure citizenship Kees Rade the efforts of human rights defenders around the rights in this continentally-sized country where, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Brazil world, promoting their work to the public. The depending on the place, human rights are still Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides funding faced with a number of challenges. In certain to projects developed by NGOs to support human areas, however, important improvements have rights defenders by improving their skills, helping been achieved. The protection provided to hu- in joint work with the United Nations, reinforcing man rights defenders is just one example of their safety, and even giving them shelter, should that commitment. We are very happy to take this they find themselves under threat.W e are proud chance to tell the stories of these human rights of the fact that in 2013 the Municipality of Haia defenders and emphasize the importance of the will operate as a Shelter Town, where, for the first role they play. time, four human rights defenders will stay for a period of three months, where they will be able Fortunately, the Netherlands share with the to rest while participating in a training program European Union and Brazil a consensus on the and attending meetings with leading figures in preeminence of the work of human rights de- human rights. fenders. The European Union’s human rights pol- icies are a strategic tool for the implementation 10 11 INTRODUCTIONS
e had the pleasure to be invited by all spheres in the context of development, he human rights defenders are the the Embassy of the Kingdom of the democratization and similar processes. highest expression of the struggle for WNetherlands to join efforts in preparing Tthe promotion and protection of human the publication Ten faces of the struggle for The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders rights and fundamental freedoms, a struggle Human Rights in Brazil, together with the (1998) states that everyone has a responsibility fought mainly in silence. The Delegation of the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency regarding the promotion and protection of human European Union is very proud to support this publication, which celebrates the excellent work and the Delegation of the European Union in rights. This is the major contribution of the work: done by ten Brazilian defenders. Brazil. This work was prepared with the purpose bringing awareness on the issue to an even larger of highlighting and supporting the valuable number of people, so that they will also become Support to human rights defenders is a long- work carried out by human rights defenders human rights defenders, in their own way. standing element of the European Union policy in Brazil. Names often unknown nationally and on human rights. In the context of the Europe- internationally, but whose stories need to be Brazil has advanced greatly for over a decade, an Union Guidelines for Human Rights Defend- heard for the inspirational power they carry in particularly with the work of the Secretariat ers, the European Union Delegation for Brazil their struggles and life paths. of Human Rights of the Presidency. However, supports the Secretariat of Human Rights in its this continentally-sized country, which has a activities to prepare the National Plan for the The theme of the celebrations of 2012 Human wide range of ethnic and cultural diversity, still Protection of Human Rights Defenders. We work Rights Day was people’s right to be heard publicly faces considerable obstacles in this struggle. together with the Member States represented in and to be included in the policy-making decision In this regard, the joint work and partnerships Brazil and we are involved with the Brazilian Gov- process - whether women, youth, minorities, established for the promotion of human rights ernment and with the civil society in a rich, open people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, the represent an undeniable contribution towards the and constructive discussion to better safeguard human rights defenders. poor or outcasts. This publication is an attempt consolidation of this path. to contribute to this mission, echoing voices able I would like to congratulate the Embassy of to foster the construction of a society and world So, it doesn’t matter how long and how the Netherlands in Brazil, the United Nations Sys- increasingly fair and safe for all those who want difficult the journey may be.W hat matters is that tem and the Secretariat of Human Rights of the and need access to their rights. we do our best for justice to always prevail and Presidency for this insightful initiative, which is so that everyone can enjoy the rights and dignity also a good representation of our joint efforts to Protecting the defenders and supporting them they deserve. protect human rights. in their work should be the central aspect of the States’ strategies on human rights. Support for Jorge Chediek Ana Paula Zacarias human rights defenders is also characterized UN Resident Coordinator in Brazil Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the Eu- as an aspect of international cooperation in ropean Union in Brazil 12 13 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
he term human rights is very well known but rather consideration for other human beings of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN and the and widespread. It is widely adopted and the notion that everyone is entitled to the full It recognizes human rights’ defense as a right Taround the world with the advent of the set of human rights. In fact, part of their role is a in itself, and recognizes people who do so as protection of Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the desire to see that ideal become reality. human rights defenders. United Nations on December 10, 1948. That defenders of was the first time that the rights that should be Around the world, a good portion of these Despite having no binding power, the guaranteed to all human beings were globally human rights defenders were and still are subject declaration contains a number of principles and human rights discussed. The date is celebrated each year as to violation of their own rights. They are the rights based on other international instruments the International Human Rights Day. targets of executions, torture, arbitrary arrests, which are binding by law. Also, it was adopted death threats, harassment, and defamation, by consensus by the General Assembly, and Since then, around the world, millions of restriction to their freedom to come and go and therefore represents a strong commitment of the people have been working to promote and to their freedom of speech. Member States for its implementation. protect human rights. They are called Human Rights Defenders. Generally, they are people These violations were the main motivation The declaration provides for support from the who, individually or in groups, work to safeguard for the creation of the Declaration on the Right State to the activities of human rights defenders. in practice the principles advocated by the and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and It also outlines some specific duties of the States Universal Declaration. Agencies to Promote and Protect Universally and the responsibilities of each individual in Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental relation to the defense of human rights. The defenders work mainly by collecting and Freedoms, commonly known as the Declaration disseminating information, doing advocacy and on Human Rights Defenders, December 9, 1998. The idea is that defenders, the State and mobilizing public opinion about rights violations, individuals can work together to guarantee the as well as offering help and support to those who The United Nations consider that the physical and psychological safety of those who had their human rights violated. implementation of international standards of work defending human rights, and can work human rights in their Member States depends more and more to secure universal rights to any This work can be done in several areas: largely on the contribution of individuals person. education, summary executions, and conflict and groups defending human rights. Where over land, environment, discrimination, genital governments, states, national laws, police, the mutilation, and access to health care, labor judiciary and the State fail to provide adequate issues, among many others. protection to human rights, the defenders end up being the last ones to have their rights protected. Note that, according to the UN High Thus, they require special protection. Commissioner for Human Rights, a defender of rights needs not be recognized as such. Their The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders role does not require professional qualifications, was enacted in 1998, on the 50th anniversary 14 15 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
razil has been a pioneer in the Brazil and the implementation of the UN guidelines Bstated in the Declaration on the Rights protection of and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Universally defenders of Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, or the Declaration on Human Rights human rights Defenders.
Brazil was the only country to implement in 2004 a Program to Protect Human Rights Defenders run by the government. Related to the monitoring of investigations and complaints, and the State Programs. These are deliberative bodies Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency, dialogues with the agencies responsible for the that aim to discuss the policy and strategies for it recognizes how important defenders are for implementation of protective measures. the protection of human rights defenders, decide securing rights, and adopts, and articulates on applications for admittance and discharge, as measures to protect people who work in the The request for admission to the program well as protective measures to be adopted and promotion and protection of rights and who are can be made by the defenders themselves or articulated with the relevant agencies. under threat as a result of their work. In by rights networks, entities and organizations of 2007, another major breakthrough came with the civil society, Prosecution Office or any other The protective measures of the Program the introduction of the National Policy for the public agency that becomes aware of the threat to Protect Human Rights Defenders include Protection of Human Rights Defenders. or violation to which the person is exposed. The dialogues with public and private agencies inclusion of the defender will take into account and entities, aimed at resolving conflicts and The program seeks to focus on overcoming how serious the violation or threat is and the overcoming the causes that generate threats; the causes that generate risk and threat. To difficulty of preventing or suppressing them by with the agencies of the justice system of achieve this goal, it operates on putting together conventional mechanisms of public safety. Some the States and of the Federal Government for measures and actions with the Executive, criteria are observed, such as: legal defense and support in the monitoring of Legislative and Judiciary and with the organized violations; with public safety agencies of the civil society. Currently, it is present in eight A role in protecting and promoting human states aimed at ensuring the safety of human Brazilian states: Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito rights - it must be evidenced that the applicant rights defenders and investigation of violations; Santo, Pernambuco, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Rio works as a defender of human rights; psychosocial measures; actions to enable the Grande do Sul, and Ceará. recognition of the role of human rights defenders Causal relation - the violation or threat in the society, and, exceptionally, temporary Defenders are assisted by state technical suffered by the applicant must result from his/her removal of defenders from their site of action in teams, where state programs are available, role in protecting and promoting human rights; cases of serious threat or imminent risk. or by the federal technical team, in the states where the program is not available. Through Compliance with the rules - the applicant this assistance, they are monitored from the time must accept the terms and conditions of the they apply to the time they are discharged. They Program. are constantly monitored, and the risk and threat they find themselves in are continually assessed. Each Program has a National Coordination for The program offers periodic visits to the places the Federal Program and a State Coordination for where the defenders work, psychosocial care, 16 17 Ten faces of the struggle for human rights
in Brazil en people, ten life stories and a common denominator: extraordinary strength to Texercise their citizenship and fight for human rights.
The interviews below seek to give a voice to ten Brazilian defenders, selected by the Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency, who work in different areas: right to land, to life, to appropriate non-violent treatment, to the environment, to the maintenance of traditional, indigenous, Quilombolas and fishermen communities.
The interviews show the work of these ten defenders, the difficulties and the collective gains from their actions and the human side of the struggle, which unfortunately generates losses, fears and frustrations. They are extraordinary people who remain and continue fighting for a fairer country, where universal rights can be enjoyed by the entire population.
This publication is intended as a tribute to those citizens and thus to all of those who defend human rights.
18 19 Alexandre Anderson de Souza “Fighting I found my peace”
ince 2003, the fishermanA lexandre How and why was AHOMAR created? to Russia, but I preferred to stay with my family. i.e., during spawning and reproduction period of Anderson de Souza has been engaging My brother-in-law was a fisherman by then, so I fishes) for artisanal fishermen, maternity-leave Sin a battle in favor of the Guanabara Its origin dates back to 2003, when the decided to follow that path. I bought a boat with benefit for fisherwomen, and some retirement Bay, in Rio de Janeiro, and of artisanal fishing Seamen Group of Guanabara Bay was created, the money from my severance pay. And that’s actions that benefit all fishermen rather than just communities living from what the bay has to bringing together fishermen leaders from Magé, when I started to see that the “caiçaras” (T. N.: a members. offer, despite the construction of petrochemical on the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. At the time, in derogatory designation of people living by coastal developments affecting local environment. 2000, one of the largest environmental disasters area, mostly in South and Southeast regions), the We also created a fishermen union involving Since then, his life’s main goal has become the had just happened in Brazil: the spill of nearly 350 original fishermen were being smashed. That is 13 regions of Rio de Janeiro. This is a strategic defense of decent living conditions for thousands thousand gallons of oil in Guanabara Bay. That when I came up with the idea to create a group. move, as this type of organization becomes of fishermen, putting that goal before even his caused extensive damages to the environment. People can’t do much alone. representative and gains visibility and voice personal matters. Even under threat and having anywhere. Although our license has not been witnessed the loss of some of his peers, he finds After this accident, we believed that they When did the group become an issued yet, we are currently acting as a union. it hard to make plans for the future that are not would let the bay rest for a while. But a year association? associated with this goal. later, they started building a new pipeline at sea, By doing that, we continue fighting against the hindering fishing. I presented the idea to create a In 2007, the group became AHOMAR. We presence of petrochemical ventures in Guanabara Alexandre is the founder and president group to fight against this kind of venture. I didn’t needed an official structure to be able to issue Bay, protesting, denouncing and exposing to the of the Seamen Association of Rio de Janeiro even want to be the leader of this group; I didn’t notifications, make formal representations, problem. Besides pipelines, tankers and tugs, (AHOMAR). He established a fishing union in the think of myself as a leader, but the fishermen and request documents. At that point, we which destroy our fishing space, they now want state and dreams of creating the first national had I convinced. They thought I was a bit more were working inside licensing agencies and to make industrial use of Guaxindiba river, located confederation of artisanal fishermen in the articulate than them, as fishing has not always oil companies that were established over the in an Area of Environmental Protection, which will country. Supported by organizations, he has been been how I made a living. Guanabara Bay. We questioned why our fishing cause major damage to the environment. promoting the issue in Brazil and in the world and activity was being hindered, while no alternatives has been working together with technicians and Why become a fisherman? were being offered to us. What is the environmental and social universities to scientifically prove the damage impact of this presence? that has been done and the impact that these My late father was a civil engineer, my Nowadays, AHOMAR has nearly two thousand developments could cause if not stopped. mother a housewife and my sisters a lawyer members in seven towns in the bay. However, we Since 2003, we started to realize that our area and an engineer. I studied through high school represent over 4600 fishermen, because the law of marine activity was being taken away, without At age 42, Alexandre wants to expand his and worked for a Uruguayan company and says that no one is required to join, but we can notice, without public hearing. There were ships, actions. He has recently become a member of then to a Russian company which provided represent non-members if they give us permission. duct laying, tugs, and the community was just the national board for the National Movement for customs-related services. The latter closed their Our actions included the “seguro defeso” not being heard. We found that, right after the the Regularization of Fishing Territories and will headquarters in Brazil and asked me to come (allowance granted when fishing is forbidden, spill of 2000, there was a large decrease in fish also work in the South of the country. 20 21 availability. Guanabara Bay has an extraction- barracks. There could be leakages, accidents Yes. The situation is similar. We are losing Are you afraid? based practice. You can’t start fish hatcheries, and explosions that would put the entire region our way of life to large enterprises that come here because of the changes in water wholesomeness. at risk. to get richer and enhance capital. The presence Living under threat is living aware that you In 2010, we started making a participatory map, of a wind power plant, a shrimp farm, a mining can get killed at any moment. But I’m no longer with the help of the Federal University of Rio de What do fishermen claim in their company or a major oil company rarely means afraid to die; I live one day at a time. I appreciate Janeiro, to find the differences across fisheries struggle? local, social or environmental development for life every day I wake up, because maybe one day and the quantity of fish caught between 1990 the surrounding traditional communities. Social I won’t wake up anymore. It is a reality that I have and 2000. We visited 28 communities and put We actually never sought indemnification. No responsibility is in the law, but it is not applied. to come to terms with; I’ve been assaulted six together a magazine and a map - fishermen company can ever say we went to them for money. times and saw four of my peers die. People say have a very powerful sense of location. There We held many meetings, and the fishermen In fact, traditional communities, whether I’m always on the fast lane, but that’s because were no doubts there: we are fishing 80% less, always said they wanted no money. They don’t fishermen, Quilombolas (T. N.: residents of I’m afraid I won’t be alive tomorrow to fight. I’m as compared to the late 90’s. want to quit fishing; they want to make their living Quilombos, i.e., during slavery time, it was a trying to teach my wife to take my place and just like their great-grandfathers, grandfathers hiding-place of fugitive Negro slaves in Brazil) or others to work. The cause is impoverishment. And that and fathers did: through fishing, with dignity indigenous, are seen as a thorn in the side. In our causes a major impact in the life of fishermen. and contact with nature. Artisanal fishing has a case, we can see that Guanabara Bay is being AHOMAR’s cause gets strong The migration some areas are undergoing very strong relationship with the place of fishing taken over by large enterprises, except that they international support and visibility. How creates two problems: the end of fishing villages had no success in taking us away from here at and residence. We live by the riverside or by the does that work? and their surroundings (schools, businesses, seaside, where our boats are, and we fish where once. They are getting rid of us little by little, also culture), and pressure and overfishing across by playing mind games. our home is. We know everything about the area. Visibility is another facet of the struggle, and other fishing communities to which they migrate. That is what makes us artisanal fishermen.A nd that’s interesting because it shows a problem. Also, we identified suicides, alcoholism and a it couldn’t be different; otherwise we would be Do you mean violence and threats? The Brazilian media places a curtain over major risk to the children of fishermen. There industrial fishermen. the issue preventing it from being seen. The used to be a natural logic that a fisherman’s son Yes. Some comrades were murdered, they mainstream media will only come to Magé when would become a fisherman too. However, with no We want recognition of our rights to do were all my friends, and that gets to us too. people die. However, we are constantly followed fish and no money, they can easily be allured to what we’ve always done. If they can’t take out by international media, such as the Washington traffic. of the Guanabara Bay what they’ve already My wife and I live constantly under risk and Post, Al Jazeera and L’Express. implemented there, then at least they shouldn’t under death threats. And that certainly affects my There is an important historical question there build anything else there, so the situation does personal life. I had to stop fishing because it was In addition to this support from the too. The fisherman is the heart of that entire not get any worse. The refineries terminals that not safe anymore. They started killing people at international media, we have organizations that region; when that heart is run over or destroyed, are there can stay until they run out, but they sea. To get an idea, I had to sell three outboard help us a lot. Oil Watch and Frontline help us the whole body dies. Guanabara Bay is dying and should leave the rest to us, and maybe we can engines, two boats and a motorboat that I bought travel and subsidize the purchase of materials for so are her children, the fishermen. This will also survive and perpetuate fishing there for another with money from fishing. Today, I make a living the association. They put us on the international generate a social problem for residents who are hundred years. by working as a forwarding agent, but I also rely map of the fishermen struggle. I’ve had the not at places directly related to the community. on help from neighbors, business owners and chance to talk about the issue in Switzerland, There will be ghost towns, increased criminality, If they go any further, we will be left out. A friends to help us pay some bills. France, Colombia and Ecuador. logistics problems - where will fishermen and decent option must be given to the fishermen of their children go to? It will always put a strain Guanabara Bay. What they don’t understand is that with more These organizations have tried to get me out on society. free time in my hands, with the slowdown in of the country because of the threats, but neither Is this situation repeated in fishing fishing because of the risks, my activism has I nor my wife wanted to leave the struggle. Also, you can say that the Guanabara Bay is become even stronger. I can give more visibility a time bomb. There are ships with tons of gases communities throughout Brazil? to the problem, especially internationally. This international visibility also helps other next to fuel and ammunition stocked in military 22 23 groups. We are currently engaged in bilateral have left. The spots will be marked through actions with the Maori in New Zealand. Fishing participatory mapping; first signaling with buoys, in the tribe has been affected by the construction and then with the permission of some instances, of petrochemical enterprises, and the consul of we’ll put up signs reading: “Keep out. Fishing a town in the Western part of the island came area”. In addition, we will change the name of the to us. They wanted to learn from us how boating association to Association of Men and Women of protests are organized in Rio, and we are helping the Sea of Rio de Janeiro, in early 2013. them fight against the petrochemical enterprises. How about on a personal level? In Brazil, we have a lot of support from the human rights commission of the Legislative I have no personal ambition; I’ve had a lot, Assembly of Rio de Janeiro - which does a very but not now. All my personal plans lead to the good job, and from the state’s public defender’s struggle. I want to go to law school and help office of human rights, which supports me in fuel the struggle, and my wife wants to study criminal hearings. I am currently not being sued, environmental management for the same but they have tried to criminally sue me for purpose. We were given scholarships. But I want twelve times. I was acquitted every time. Neither to keep on going as an activist, I want to make my AHOMAR nor the union are currently being sued. union successful, and maybe even found the first national confederation of artisanal fishermen. Do you miss fishing? I’m very proud of what we fight for and of Yes, I want to go back to fishing, even knowing being a fisherman. I look at men, in their wrinkled the risks. I need to support my family. I find myself skin and hair as white as a sheep, their strong in hardship and I know the least amount I need hands and heart beating strong in their chest, to provide for my family. The odd jobs I take are fishing, and I see myself in them. I envy them, I nowhere near enough. I’m sure I’ll feel happier wish I was in their position, but somehow I can when I get back to fishing. feel a bit of that energy, and I feel like a “caiçara”.
Besides going back to fishing, what In fishing and in our struggle I was able to are your plans for the future? find my peace. I used to think too much of myself and in my own future, maybe of my family’s. But We are planning two campaigns. One is for life is not limited to that. What good is it to live a the territory of traditional fishing communities lifetime if I cannot do anything for the world I’m in Brazil. We will use our experience with the living in? Should I have to choose between living participatory map of Guanabara Bay and then for nothing and dying for something, I’d choose move on to other Brazilian territories where dying for something. fishing communities are being threatened by large enterprises. Another initiative is the creation of a zone free of oil companies in the bay. But nothing about taking the law into our own hands. We’ll signal all fishing areas to protect what we 24 25 ELISEU LOPES “We are not violent, and yet we’re still dying”
he Guarani-Kaiowá Eliseu Lopes, 37, bring differentiated education to our community. indigenous people. That’s because a number of do Sul, the indigenous people are occupying first became involved with indigenous When families were living in the settlement of Taquapiri, their land, taking over old farms that are actually Tissues in 2003, when he became a mine included, only because they had been indigenous land, as proven by reports. There are teacher in Taquapiri settlement in the Brazilian I speak of differentiated education; I mean evicted from their own land in the past, some fifty 36 campgrounds in total. The farmers and the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. He has been a education that will pass on our traditions and years ago. These lands were turned into farms. media spread rumors that once the demarcation spokesman for the Aty Guasu Movement since our culture to future generations. When I went was issued, we would take over the whole state 2007, bringing together the Guarani-Kaiowá, to school, teachers were non-indigenous; they With these documents and evidence, and of Mato Grosso do Sul. and he’s been active in the struggle for the came from other states and couldn’t speak together with other leaders, as of 2007 these recovery of land that historically belonged to his Guarani. This rescue of indigenous tradition is families returned to occupy the land that was But that is a lie they are saying. Occupancy ancestors, the Kurusu Amba, and in supporting something the indigenous people achieved in theirs. Despite the eviction, we never put aside actions, road blocking, and barriers are some leaders in the other 35 indigenous campgrounds their mobilization. the feeling that this land was ours. We have a of the means we use to call the government’s in the state. very strong connection with the place, for the attention to our situation. We want education to also address our indigenous people land is a very significant issue. Currently, the defender is working in Brasília, history of struggles and explain to the children We feel spiritually free, we feel free to exert our Because of these actions, we have been as a coordinator of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in the situation that the Guarani-Kaiowá are living culture. Contact with nature is also important suffering a lot of violence, threats, and many Brazil, dealing with indigenous issues throughout in Mato Grosso do Sul. They need to know that because, when we moved to another settlement, of our leaders have been killed. The Guarani- the country. But he remains a member of this fight is a result of suffering that has been Taquapiri, we overpopulated the place, and the Kaiowá are not of a violent nature. That is not part the Aty Guasu Movement and represents the imposed on us for over five hundred years. That land was just not enough for so many people. of our learning and our traditions. If we were, communities of Mato Grosso do Sul in the federal is why I started to engage and fight for some we would have killed many farmers, but that capital. And he plans to go back to his land soon. things in the settlement where I worked for four I was witnessing the death of many leaders. never happened. We never resource to violence, years. My relatives and family by blood were suffering. and yet we are suffering violence, assaults and How did you become the indigenous We ended up camping by a federal highway, murders. We want no blood shedding. leader for the Guarani-Kaiowá of Kurusu How did you start to work for the waiting for a demarcation of land that just never defense of the rights to land of the happened. Then I too joined in the fight. That Specifically for my settlement, today we are Amba? year, the Aty Guasu movement called me to be seventy families camped in a 500 hectares area, Guarani-Kaiowá? their spokesman. without any services or decent infrastructure. My struggle began with indigenous education We rely on receiving basic food basket aids from in 2003. Because I could speak Portuguese Along with my work as a teacher and my What is the situation currently like in the government, but they not always come, and and Guarani, and because I learned from the participation in the committee of indigenous Kurusu Amba? we have no education or health care. So, the elders, I decided to teach classes to children in teachers in the state, I also started to research situation gets very difficult for the families, and the settlement of Taquapiri. I started attending and try to find historical documents that proved Not only there, but throughout Mato Grosso especially for the children. In 2010 alone, four teachers’ committees and to make every effort to that the Kurusu Amba land belonged to the children died from malnutrition, for example. 26 27 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
Although violence against the interconnected, and that we are strong. to spread our version of the events, and that is Investments in education and healthcare are also Guarani-Kaiowá are still the focal point ultimately noticed by the traditional media. required in those regions. of the situation in the region, are there Articulations and mobilizations continued any factors that can be considered as throughout 2012 and we got the Federal Police What has stricken you the most Without these things, we risk repeating the to investigate, and then arrest the murderers of during your work? situation of the indigenous reserve of Dourados: achievements of your leaders and of the Nísio, although his body was never found. At least overpopulation lacking decent living conditions Aty Guasu movement as a whole? now we showed that justice will come through. First of all, the resistance strength of the which led to violence, drug dealing, alcoholism Before that farmers had no reservations, as they Guarani-Kaiowá, even when faced with the and children dying of malnutrition. With support We managed to get the indigenous peoples to knew they wouldn’t face any punishment. They suffering of their children, their women crying and incentive policies, we can prevent other organize in their core. The leadership multiplied. would let everyone know that they would shed under attack and threats when they were indigenous lands from becoming a “new Also, other groups have joined in. Now, the more blood. Maybe now they’ll see that they will helpless. Even with persecutions, with our lack of Dourados”. Aty Guasu movement has ramifications for the face consequences. means, we won’t quit fighting.W e are pursuing youths, women, prayers and teachers. At least our rights. In any fight, in any movement, we Did you feel your life was under threat twice a year, the movement brings together all How do you assess the media work in always keep faith, the hope that we will achieve when you used to work at the base? participants to discuss not only the repossession relation to indigenous issues? our goals. That is the teaching that we receive. of our land, but also health care, education and And that makes me stronger to keep fighting. Yes. Since 2007, I couldn’t stay long in politics. Therefore, in general, the movement has There are two sides. The media has an one place, in one settlement, during the time I been gaining strength through the struggle. They important role as it can show the world our Something else that stroke me, but on the worked at the base. If I spent the month in one all say: “No more blood shedding”. Things just reality, what we are going through, what the downside, is how long it’s taking to have the village, the next month I had to move to another. can’t go on like that. community and the children are suffering, how issue in Mato Grosso do Sul sorted. That makes That had an influence on my separation. I don’t we are being attacked, and the reason why this is things harder for us, for the people who are have a place to stay quiet with my family. It’s a Another important achievement was our happening. Especially because many people just there. Life becomes difficult, thus leading to difficult situation.W e are afraid because we have mobilization for the murderers of Chieftain Nísio don’t know the situation of indigenous peoples in more persecutions and deaths. So we need to nowhere to run. So, we have to face this life. We Gomes to go to jail. Nísio was not only my friend the country, not only the Guarani-Kaiowá’s. They have that matter solved. At least those areas that have no other choice. We must go after what is but also one of the main leaders of the Guarani- don’t understand our cultural differences; they are being repossessed need to be demarcated. ours. Kaiowá. He was killed in an attack in November don’t see us as human beings. Even if the area is not extensive, but at least they 2011, after leading the occupation of the Guayviry will be on a piece of land that they know they own Now I’m living in Brasília, working on a campground, near the border with Paraguay. He On the other hand, we are often discriminated and that they want back. national level, but it is a temporary situation. I would always say that “the land belongs to us, against by the media. The local media is especially will go back one day because my home is there. to our grandparents, to our parents”. He always against the indigenous people; they publish I belong to those lands. said he would come back. He came back and You mentioned that the movement untruths, and try to hinder our mobilization. died. claims and discusses issues other than Lately we are getting more space in the media land. What are they? as a whole. The matter of Nísio’s death is an After his death, we went public about the example of that. Now we have some people who attack, to show the country what the Guarani- When they demarcate our lands, we’ll know how to deal with that. They are prepared to Kaiowá are going through. We quickly went to the especially need a lot of support for production, deal with the media. The internet also helps a lot, crime scene, took pictures and showed the blood because there’s no use in owning land without because many base sites the media just can’t that was shed. We sent that to the media. Then support to work the land. The land that the reach, or the only media available is that against the leaders and others organized demonstrations Guarani-Kaiowá are claiming is highly degraded us. We are there taking pictures, showing the against the attack. We closed down roads and as it is. There’s no more forest and no more fish. reality of the situation and using the pages and walked to show the authorities that the Guarani- And we have a great deal of work ahead of us e-mails from our network of partner organizations Kaiowá are not alone, that all settlements are to recover the land, and make a living out of it. 28 29 EVANE LOPES “We are still living as society’s outcasts - waiting for crumbs”
t 36, Evane Lopes staged a series of that her actions can be even stronger against the trespassing because of mining in the community. And at that time I wasn’t even aware of the issues actions in favor of the “quilombola” injustice committed everyday against traditional Initially, it was a traditional mining performed by involving the quilombola community. I went to Acommunity of São Domingos and four populations in the name of money and power. the black people, but then it started to attract the Department of Education of Paracatu, which other communities in the region of Paracatu, others. I grew up in the midst of all this and, initially tried to develop a project with us. In 2002, a town in the northwest of the state of Minas How did your relationship with the somehow, these issues get stored in our mind. however, for political changes in the government, Gerais, where mining and large landed estates Quilombola communities come to be? I had to leave the school. That caused dropouts have an influential role in municipalities’ policies. Was that invasion the reason why in the community in the project I developed with Her power of leadership and coordination, as I was born and raised in the quilombola you started to work for the defense of adults. There was hardly any early childhood well as her determination to confront both community of São Domingos. I belong to one the rights of the community? education anymore. In a quilombola community, non-governmental organizations and powerful of the families that originated the Quilombo. My when the work is interrupted, there’s no use in companies in the region, yielded benefits. hiring teachers from outside. But I kept fighting great-grandmother was actually a slave, and That was the basis. As a child I wanted to do for the preservation of tradition on other fronts. since I was a child I have been surrounded by something to change the situation. But we owe As the president of the Quilombola São stories of enslaved blacks in Brazil, told by elders. respect to our elders and there was nothing I could Domingos Association, a contributor to the Because they are the source of all the wisdom do. I got married in 1993 and started working When did you start working with São northwest region of the Quilombola Federation available. When I was 10 years old, I started for the church in the community. In this role, Domingos Quilombola Association? of Minas Gerais and an active member of the collecting stories from people in the community, my biggest concern was to recover our ancient CONAQ (National Coordination of Articulation because my dream was to write a book about traditions and prayers that were getting lost. We In 2002, a process was in place to recognize of Quilombolas Rural Black Communities), she it. To this day I have the notebook where I wrote prayed at the foot of the genipap tree, where our the community as remnant of Quilombos, and managed to secure basic rights for the quilombola those stories down. I fell in love with listening ancestors were buried. I tried to play a role as an an anthropologist was hired to research that. I people, demand indemnity for damages from to the elders and understanding the past of our educator in the community to preserve the rituals was invited to accompany him throughout the a large company operating there and take the community and learning about our origins. and spell casting we did under the cedar tree, process of creation of the association, which is five communities in the region to talk to the which in no way went against Catholicism. I tried one of the basic requirements for the recognition Presidency of Brazil. She has also emerged as an Over time, however, I started to realize that to raise awareness about it. of ownership over the community’s land. At the advocate of rights: in September 2012, she was the ancient wisdom was being cut short because time, they asked me to be the president of the selected to serve on the National Civil Society people started to get hold of the land of our Even before working as a member of the São association. But I thought it would be better Advisory Group for UN Women. community. I saw how hard my uncle and my Domingos Quilombola Association, I worked as if an older person, with more tradition, took grandfather fought to defend a territory that a teacher at the community school for six years. the position. I became the first secretary and Married since she was 17, and with three was ours. I can’t stress enough that we never And that was one of my first fights. I found a accompanied the board on trips, seminars and daughters, in 2012 Evane was threatened with used weapons - just words and sometimes our school that served the communities in the region, presentations of the community. We were taking death because of her work. But stopping doesn’t physical strength. The once open community, by but the school was about to close down, had just projects into the community as well. even cross her mind. In addition to all her activism, the mid-1980s had to be barbed-wired to stop a few students and was not preserving traditions. the advocate goes to law school in Paracatu so 30 31 I began to witness situations that didn’t go What caused you to be nationally After the proceedings, the mining company together with the Quilombola Federation of well with me. In late 2004 I found out that funds recognized as an advocate for the rights was forced to comply with the conditions set Minas Gerais, I managed to get a bus to take transferred by the federal government for the of Quilombola communities? When and for their activities in the region, which included Quilombolas from the region to the conference implementation of projects in the community how that happened? indemnifying the population for damages and Rio+20. That resulted in the idea to create were being used for other purposes. These funds repairing homes that cracked after explosions. the TV Quilombo on the internet, with videos were not sent directly to the association because That has not been done yet, but we hope that will and programs produced by the community. Initially, under the new leadership, the other people managed them. I questioned be sorted soon. We are currently waiting for funding. We also Association started working with the mining members of the board about it and they told me I created the community blog: company that operates in São Domingos and was asking too much about things that weren’t of other Quilombola communities in Paracatu. And how did that hearing boost your my concern. I learned from my grandfather that
t 34, judge Gleydson Gleber, from the school of Caruaru. He is the director of the City the organization in April 2007. At the time, it was I treat everyone the same way during the Third Criminal Court of Caruaru, a Courthouse; he has a sandwich-scholarship to the first major action against organized crime case. For example, I allowed families to have Acity with 350 thousand inhabitants in study Constitutional Law, with classes also in related to murders in the country. contact with inmates, despite the apprehension the Agreste region (T. N.: In Brazil, the Agreste Portugal. that it could lead to violence against us. is a narrow zone in the states of Paraíba, A total of 31 people were arrested. Homicide Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia What was your work against criminal levels in the city dropped by a third, remaining When did threats begin? between the coastal forest zona da mata and the organizations like? lower to this day. Homicides decreased by one semiarid sertão. The Agreste actually fades out third in the city: from as high as 180, by 2007 Early in the hearings. We worked for a year before Rio Grande do Norte is reached owing to I was a judge in the municipality of Santa Cruz the number has gone down to 120 homicides, under threats. But I relied on the Federal Police the breakdown of the mountain chain that gives do Capibaribe, and in 2006 I was transferred and we managed to hold that number down to and also on the Court, which appointed other the coastal Atlantic forest zone high rainfall.) to Caruaru, a nearby town in the Agreste of this day. We had no homicides in the city this eight judges to work in the case, so that the work of the state of Pernambuco, has extensive and Pernambuco. At the time the town had an year - from April to the end of June. We had three would not be personified in one person. I also recognized experience in the defense of human average of 180 murders per year. The Criminal months without any homicides. had unrestricted support from the Military Police. rights. He was the leading judge in the first major Court I was transferred to had just been created operation against vigilante organized crime in the and it received the majority of the cases in order Has your work in this case gone However, people who violate human rights country in 2007. Even under risks and threats, he to expedite cases held by other courts. Then, in beyond your duties as a judge? will indeed focus their attention on the judge helped dismantle a powerful scheme, which was 2006 and in 2007, I was virtually the only criminal who started the case. I also received threats responsible for a third of homicides in the city. judge in the city. I worked in an investigation on No. I didn’t run the investigations myself. I afterwards, probably because the case resolution drug trafficking. The investigation uncovered a granted provisional remedies in the investigation, led to the organization being dismantled. For Intelligent and well articulated Gleydson major criminal organization in the city, which was which is what may or may not produce the such actions often get lost halfway to the end, became a judge at age 24, always working in responsible for both trafficking and homicides. evidence: phone tapping, lifting of bank secrecy, and the group still has the possibility to act. In the the criminal area. He claims that his work is pro- lifting of tax secrecy, among others. Things that case of Caruaru, that was not possible. life and he believes that in human rights-related The organization involved powerful people can be granted only by a judge. So much so that I cases it is the Court role to enforce the law, of the city, as well as police officers - not the talked to the participants of the operation and told How to deal with fear? and not to fall short - by making punishments military police as an institution, which has always them that I was there fulfilling my constitutional milder, or to go beyond - by delivering excessive supported me, but some individuals working role and that I would not go easy in that role. Fear was present then and is present now, verdicts. He abides by the principle that everyone within it. We had to call the Federal Police, in Likewise, I would not fall short of what I was but we end up getting used to some feelings. is entitled to a fair treatment in trial. In addition Brasília, for backup forces. The operation resulted supposed to do for all the parties involved. to working as a judge, he teaches at the Law in several convictions and in the dismantling of Even under threat I hold my peace of mind 36 37 and I take caution measures, but I feel protected will be to defend the constitutional provisions election, for example, I had to go to a small town We talked a little about the role in the city. I choose where I live; I have all the and laws. A judge should not fall short in his upstate in Pernambuco to talk to candidates, of Justice and law. In this scenario of necessary precautions and support. Nonetheless, role, by failing to fulfill it, and neither should to and ask them to tune down their enthusiasm in vigilantism and violence against human I can’t walk around freely like a regular person. go overboard, by delivering excessive verdicts. their militancy. Since I was aware that election rights, what would be your suggestion I miss that. I am currently taking a masters’ We can’t deliver excessive verdicts, or fall short crimes were occurring, I had to warn them that for other sectors? degree course abroad, and that is where I feel when a case comes to us. I mean, when you are the entire election process could be jeopardized, more relaxed and free. I can take the subway or assigned with a case, it is your mission to fulfill it. should any casualties occur. I think laws should be enacted with life walk down the street without any concerns. preservation in mind. Additionally, the penitentiary You see, we are paid by the State for that, But, apart from some laws that should be system has plenty of room for improvement, so it Today, I can live with these nuances of the to resolve conflicts of interest, to reach the redressed, there is a matter of how the courts may effectively rehabilitate a person who has been profession and I feel much better than in 2007. solution of a dispute. So when a case comes to will construe the existing laws. Our Constitution convicted for violating human rights. We have no In the beginning, I even faced health problems, a judge, that case will be solved. If the person is a post-dictatorship constitution. We are life sentence in Brazil, so inmates will eventually but I never missed a hearing, because that had is acquitted, that is OK. Otherwise, they will be experiencing a very intense period of repression be released to live among society again. We can’t to be done. convicted. We are here to enforce the law. As and suppression of human rights, so this turn jails into places to store human beings. per my oath, I must comply with the constitution, constitution especially focuses on the right to Human beings must be provided with at least the Did you receive any support from laws and pursue justice. That is what I´ll do until freedom and on individual rights. But collective, very minimum. Another crucial issue in fighting colleagues when you decided to tackle the end of my career. social and solidarity rights are also present, and vigilante groups is making policies stronger, with the case even under threat? we need to value them. A new interpretation is better conditions and better pay, as well as police Concerning rights, for instance, I think the required. What should I preserve: the individual actions towards prevention. Yes, from some. Others thought that I should defendant deserves a fair trial. Even someone rights of a person who kills or several lives? That not have got so deeply involved,, and that I who has committed the worst and the largest must be weighed in. Also, public policies are required. In a society, should have left the case upon the first threats. number of crimes deserves to be treated as a the less inequality, the less crime. Social policies I simply had to stay; that was my case; it had human being at that moment. Should we have Currently, we must value the protection help in mass crime prevention, allowing us to to be me. Of course, staying in a case with the appropriate penitentiary system, the prisoner rights in place. A democracy becomes in fight against violence. Criminal organizations are these characteristics will greatly depend on the would come out a better person, than when he fact a democracy when freedom comes with focused on trading, and will not cease to exist personality of the judge. Some of my colleagues went in. Imprisonment itself is an ordeal. responsibility. The interpretation given by the with improved public policies. I’ve heard from a told me that, if they were in my shoes, they would courts must be one of equality and solidarity. member of an organized group: “Your Honor, this have dropped the case to preserve their lives. In an overview of the situation of I have to be supportive of my fellow citizens. is my job. Your job is to run the trial; mine is this”. That sounds fair and serious enough to me. human rights violation in the country, Everyone has rights and duties. which would you say is the main problem: So, we also need to think about how to But, as they say: life is about principles and the lack of laws to protect these rights That is what is missing. Laws must be improve our work in relation to organized crime. values. You weigh in everything and decide what or poor enforcement of these laws? construed in such a way as to preserve life. The Some of these groups will defy the legal system; you want. At that moment, I saw that my work Constitution must be used in accordance with the they will defy the police and destabilize power. should have priority over my personal issues. Certainly some laws should be redressed, social moment. It is the same; the rights are all If institutions are afraid, then a parallel power as punishments are too mild on who takes a there. We already have enough democracy in the will be established. An inversion of values has In your opinion, what is a judge’s role life away. Life is too valuable. It is our duty to country not to assign so much value to individual already started. in securing human rights? show criminals that taking a life away will result rights when they collide with the rights of the in consequences. I am strongly attached to life; society as a whole. In this collision, we need to One of the most urgent and overwhelming The judge’s role has always been and always that’s why I work the way I do. During the 2012 preserve the whole and not just one person. issues regarding crime and human rights in 38 39 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
the undergoing discussions on the subject in the country is lowering the legal age for criminal accountability. What is your opinion about it?
In Brazil, huge efforts are being made not to reduce the legal age for criminal accountability. This is a right guaranteed to adolescents. At the same time, we need public policies and education to prevent these adolescents from committing offenses.
So it’s a matter of choice. Either the country will offer conditions for people not to enter crime, and then the legal age remains at 18, or eventually the legal age will have to be reduced to 16, since the underlying crime industry will continue soliciting minors to serve at the front of criminal organizations. But, again, I say. It’s a matter of principles, values. What values will Brazil take in?
Would you have done something different today in comparison to what you did in 2007?
I’ve asked myself that question many times. The balance of the operation was very negative to me. So, I would have requested assistance sooner. By the time the proceeding started, I had no idea of how big the organization we were facing was. I couldn’t do anything different than I did, though. I would have done everything the same.
40 41 João Luís Joventino do Nascimento (João do Cumbe) “We are experiencing a new colonization”
he traditional Cumbe’s community, Cumbe community? sugar cane mills, handmade windmills used to the mobilizations. That is the venue for anything located 7,5 miles away from Aracati, East irrigate the sugar cane crops, the mud house you do in the community. Tcoast of Ceará, is rich in natural resources Cumbe is a traditional community comprised of Luiz Correia, the fourth Catholic temple of and cultural heritage. It is surrounded by dunes, of fishermen and fisherwomen, craftsmen and Cumbe - the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim From medical care to lectures on the inter-dune ponds, estuaries, the Jaguaribe river, craftswomen, and farmers in the East coast of do Cumbe, the traditional festivals, customs, environment. So I have always tried to take beaches, an extensive mangrove swamp area the state of Ceará, in the municipality of Aracati. archaeological sites showing the occupation in environmental issues into the school. The funny and carnauba palm forests. The population Our main economic activity takes place in the the region between 5 and 10 thousand years thing is that at first I didn’t even want to be a consists mainly of fishermen and fisherwomen mangrove ecosystem: crab hunting, practiced by ago, historical records that the region was well teacher. I ended up taking a Teaching course for living from hunting crabs and clams in the men, and clam hunting, performed by women, in developed as early as in the seventeenth century, lack of a better option. However, today I see how mangrove swamp. This heritage is being pushed addition to artisanal fishing in the estuary of the in addition to the traditional knowledge and ways important it is to be inserted in the school to work by large shrimp farming undertakings - bred in Jaguaribe river. We hunt in the wild, we have no of living. the way I do. captivity. That is where João Luís Joventino do crab or clam breeding facilities. We say that the Nascimento, also known as João do Cumbe, has mangrove swamp is the father and the boss of the The community is within an Environmental In 1996, shrimp farming - bred in captivity been focusing his efforts for the preservation of whole community. It has always provided us with Protection Area (EPA), but everything you can - came to the community, bringing with it the mangrove swamps and of the very community food and resources so that we could maintain a imagine in terms of damage to the environment installation of several shrimp farms by people and its cultural traditions since 1996. harmonious relationship with and respect for the takes place within this area. We suffer pressures both from the community and from outside, even ecosystem - our livelihood derives from it. from all sides, such as the destruction of mangrove from other states of Brazil. They arrived with the João used the school as a starting point for swamps, which we rely upon to survive, and the support of public banks and governments - local, his engagement. He built networks, gave visibility Cumbe is an African word meaning privatization of our dunes for the construction of state and federal. With a speech of development to the problems, put the needs of a poor and “Quilombo”. Some people do not recognize a wind farm, with serious consequences for the and progress, they promised our people roads, forgotten community on the map. After more themselves as Quilombolas, as a community community and associated ecosystems. formal employment, as well as several public than fifteen years of struggle, now aged 39, he of black ancestry, but, talking to the elder, we policies that governments are required to provide. decided to expand his work by taking a masters’ realize that the stories they tell are the stories How did your story fighting for the The speech was that shrimp farming would be degree course in Education from the Federal of black people. The region holds a large environment and for Cumbe’s traditional the salvation of the community, because fishing University of Ceará. He says he will continue to natural heritage, comprised of the Jaguaribe population start? for crabs, fish and clams was a far too outdated propagate the story and the struggle of Cumbe in river, estuaries, the mangrove swamp, and the activity. In fact, without knowing, much of the defense of mangrove swamps and dunes to warn community ended up working to deforest the carnauba palm forests, a huge dune field with The fight began in 1995, when I became a other communities that may be experiencing the mangrove swamp. The mangrove areas were natural lagoons and, further on, the beach. We teacher at the municipal school of Cumbe. In my same problem. reduced. In addition, access to the mangrove also have a huge tangible and intangible cultural work, I tried to get the community involved. The swamp had been privatized. You would have heritage, such as Santa Cruz do Cumbe, dating school is both the arrival and departure points for What are the characteristics of the back from the nineteenth century, the ruins of to walk an unimaginable distance to reach the 42 43 fishing grounds. swamps, today we have a good amount of crab that moment, we started putting together an We fought mainly because we were not available. The problem is that now they want expedition to recognize the area of the sites and listened to or respected, we were not consulted At school, I heard students talking about to bring the abandoned farms back and install we proved that they were indeed historic and with all the data at hand. Back in 2008, when the shortage of fish and crabs, while some even more in other areas of carnauba palm prehistoric archaeological sites. The situation they started the construction work, a public fishermen and fisherwomen came to me to report forests and sand flats, in addition to mangrove remained undefined until 2008, when we hearing was held to feature a project presentation about their hardships. So, I thought I should do areas. According to Brazilian environmental law, received the news that they were doing studies for the population, but the negative impacts were something. I learned about the Terramar Institute, mangrove swamp is a Permanent Preservation for the implementation of a wind farm on the site. not addressed then. They would have us believe a non-governmental organization that operates Area (PPA), and, therefore, it must not be that everything would be wonderful. across the Ceará coast. They helped me bring deforested. Furthermore, the farms that were What happened? the problem lived in Cumbe to light. People from abandoned in 2004, were never recovered, Nonetheless, the impacts came up, and out of state began to come to the site and see which affects the ecosystem. At the time, because wind power was they are still there today. The population was what was going on; we called Red Manglar, a considered a clean energy that was just faced with an intense handling of equipment, Latin American organization for the defense Was that the time people found out coming to Brazil, just a simplified report and an dump trucks, trucks and heavy equipment going of mangrove swamps, and also contacted the that the dunes of Cumbe were home to archeological study were required to implement through the narrow dirt road of the community, Department of Geography from the Federal several archaeological sites? the wind farm. Except that, as per the report of the from four o’clock in the morning until nine o’clock University of Ceará. We started receiving first archaeologist hired by the company, the wind at night. The houses closer to the construction students, researchers, taking field classes and began to crack and water supply pipes broke. Our Yes. The community is also a historical site, farm construction would not be feasible. That is attending events to expose and spark discussions peace and quiet was taken away. Dust began to and contains many archaeological sites in the because she found 53 sites and numerous traces - and I have been doing that to this date. take over the community and cause respiratory dunes, which are of the utmost importance. They of archeological findings across other areas problems. Access roads to the beach of Cumbe, have been studied since 2002. Since I was a of the dune field.A ccording to this document, to the dunes and to the inter-dune ponds are Around the year 2000, fish and crabs mortality child, I would come with my mom to do laundry it would take between five and eight years to currently levels started to rise. The promised job positions in the inter-dune ponds; we would always pass salvage all the material. The farm’s construction were scarce, and fishermen would have to leave by concentrations of archaeological materials, company looked for an archaeologist who would their families and go to the state of Rio Grande without realizing what they were. At the time, say otherwise. Then there was a second report closed. In these places, roads were built do Norte in search of their livelihood. We began she told me that those materials belonged to stating that it could be salvaged in four months. by the wind farm companies, and they said to inform against the situation. We found out indigenous people. But no one was sure of that. As a result, the construction of the wind farm that people would be able to use them freely. that they were using chemicals in net fishing of was cleared to start. Nowadays, if you want to go to the beach to fish shrimps, and after the shrimp was harvested in or to bathe, you need to ask their permission. The In 2004, now active in the community, I was the farms, those chemicals were released directly dunes, which were previously public areas, now invited to attend a meeting of environmental As many as 41 thousand pieces were into estuaries, thus killing other fish and crabs. are a private property. They took away our right to educators in areas of mangroves in the removed, and all the archaeological material was As a result of our mobilization and complaints, come and go in the areas used by the community municipality of São Francisco do Sul, state of taken to Rio Grande do Norte. However, in 2009, they had to change their methods in 2003. to carry out our traditional activities. Santa Catarina. I attended a round table on the while protesting against the wind farm, we drafted history of mangroves through the Sambaquis a list of demands, in which we claimed that the But were the shrimp farms closed? - a people who occupied the entire Brazilian archaeological material should be returned to There is also environmental pressure. Cumbe, coast, and, when someone in the tribe died, the its place of origin: the community. After a great which once supplied the municipality of Aracati Yes, but not because of the chemicals that deceased was buried along with his belongings, deal of struggle and mobilization, we are now with fresh water, now can no longer do that. I think caused, and still cause crab and fish to die.A because they believed in reincarnation. I realized achieving that goal, and a community museum is this is because to set up the foundations for the disease came down on the shrimp and that closed that was what we had in Cumbe. Visiting the planned to be built in the community. wind turbines to implement the windmills reached almost all farms. So, that is why the farms were History Department of the Federal University the groundwater, which could eventually become abandoned. It still took the mangrove swamp four of Ceará, I told them some of Cumbe’s history, What was this fight against the wind contaminated. Currently only the community is years to go back to its original state. With God’s and then about the archaeological sites. From farm like? supplied with water from the dunes. What if it is blessing and our fight in defense of the mangrove actually ever contaminated? Moreover, the dunes 44 45 are coming towards the community much faster the wind farm, to the dunes, inter-dune ponds, of Ceará, and observing the dynamics of these Our traditions and our way of life are not than they used to. It used to be a natural process beach, archaeological sites, and cemetery and to developments, which rely on domestic and respected. They wanted to put wind turbines - now it is human intervention on the dune field. some mangrove areas, as well as the jobs they foreign capital, a new colonization is in place. Of even in our cemetery, which is in the highest promised when the project was presented. course it is now done in a more modern way. dune in the area. The population is unable to How did you deal with this situation? They no longer offer goodies, but rather health use traditional leisure spots, such as Murici And has the situation improved? clinics, schools, jobs and roads - things that pond, which received a wind turbine. But I say: In 2009, we decided to shut down the work of should be done by governments through public “Listen, this is something easy to solve. When the wind farm. We organized a major protest to Some of these things have been fulfilled, policies. These large projects have no regard you arrived here, we were already here. And if show them that we meant it. For nineteen days while others are halfway. And they are promoting for the populations and traditional activities, you knew that this wind turbine would cause all the road was blocked, and the farm’s construction themselves over things that were achieved which have been overlooked at other times in this trouble, take it down and place it elsewhere, activities had to be interrupted. The reason we thanks to the community’s efforts. They threw history. Capitalism has taken ownership over but leave the pond to us so that we can carry shut down the work in the wind farm was their lack a big celebration party when they completed a demand defended by social movements and out our activities.” There are solutions. They just of respect for the community and for the people the work in the Catholic Church, which was environmentalists - wind power- which is now won’t adopt them. who live there - they acted as if we didn’t exist, damaged by the construction of the wind farm. being implemented at all costs, with nothing but as if we were nothing. They made us invisible On the day of delivery, they asked me not to profit in mind.A t this point, one of these days Have you received any threats in your and denied us our rights. What happened and speak at the party. But I took the mic and said someone will come to Cumbe and say: “Get out, struggle for the wind farm? still happens in Cumbe is a number of violations that it was an achievement of the struggle of I own this place”. to our rights. Cases of environmental injustice the community, and that the company was not Yes, I received physical, death, moral and and racism by corporations, environmental doing us any favors, they were doing nothing In fact, wind power is pointed out psychological threats. The psychological threats agencies and governments, which won’t respect more than their obligation as the damage was by environmental movements as an shocked me the most. They removed me from the community’s traditional life style, under the caused by them in the first place. The company alternative to hydroelectric power my duties as a teacher at the community argument of common interest and development hired a team for the company to liaise with plants. From your point of view, how will school I was assigned to for thirteen years, and pursue. Nobody killed, stole or committed any the community, pretending they were actually this balance work? transferred me to a community 80 miles away. crimes. We were just claiming for our rights as listening to the people. They claimed they threw I had to commute 100 miles to work every day. citizens. We also went to the State Prosecution celebration parties, giving away cake and soda, We are not questioning wind power itself, I developed a number of diseases, including Office.W e managed to have several news reports and that they taught the community classes on but the how these projects are installed in the labyrinthitis. I couldn’t even take a bus to work published. Our struggle was publicly exposed. environmental education - as if we were the ones coastal zone of Ceará, in traditional territories anymore. I was on medical leave for six months, That action resulted in a list of demands, where destroying the dunes, ponds and archaeological and communities. When companies contract but I managed to work again in the defense of corporations and the government should assume sites, and that they offered various courses on such environmental impact studies, we are our rights in Cumbe. Then, because of my health responsibility for the injustices committed against things that the community already knew how to made invisible, as if we had no relationship issues, I went back to the school in Cumbe, but the community. do. They suggested that the people in Cumbe with our territory. There is an alternative for a not to my original role. learned how to cook, cut hair, sew, manicure and peaceful coexistence with traditional populations. Our demands include the construction of a other services from these courses provided by Geographers from the Federal University of Ceará The school was my home. I don’t even like to paved road between Aracati and Cumbe, which the company. Doing things just to deceive the show, for example, that it is possible to build wind talk about it. I used to work in the morning and they had already promised when they first got people, calming down the population so they farms outside fishing territories and traditional afternoon and hold meetings with the community. here. We also asked them to restore houses, wouldn’t fight for their rights. communities, in the so-called tablelands, but it Now I don’t have that anymore. The way I was fences, the church and the schools, which were would require spending more money, and they removed from there made me dislike the place. I all damaged by the transit of machines, to return We are experiencing a new colonization. don’t want that. They prefer to build the plants felt kicked out of my own home. I committed no any archaeological material that was removed The Portuguese and the Dutch occupied much on top of the dunes so that they can benefit from crime. All I did was to defend my place and speak from the dunes, and to build a community of our coast, and the history books tell us that the height, while reducing costs. out against what was wrong. museum to exhibit the pieces. Moreover, we they brought mirrors and goodies to trade for claimed free access through the road built for brazil wood. From my work in the coastal zone 46 47 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
Do you still teach classes? that guarantees are in place for the maintenance of the life style across traditional communities in For now I’m trying to ask for a leave to take the mangrove swamp ecosystem. a masters’ degree course. I’m 39 years old and I had forgotten all about my own life because of We are also committed to warn other the fight. I put together my desire to go back to communities about where wind farms and shrimp school and my desire to stay away from the usual farms are headed to. The visibility of the conflicts political conflicts that happen in the city experienced in Cumbe actually helped and is helping other communities to deal with similar in years of election. My application was problems. In the municipality of Caravelas, state accepted for a master’s in education from the of Bahia, around the Abrolhos Archipelago, for Federal University of Ceará, in line with social example, the largest shrimp farming development movements, popular education and school. My in Brazil was about to be implemented. Together research project is about environmental racism. with a group from Ceará, I visited the communities In addition, I am very tired of it all. I was sure I was in Caravelas. We exchanged information about doing the right thing, but some people thought I the shrimp farm installation processes, and the was wrong, that I didn’t have the community’s conflicts faced by the population.V isiting Ceará interest at heart. I don’t blame them. They are with representatives of the people of Caravelas, victims of this system. a video was produced with community people speaking about the real problems imposed by But I have been contributing, and will continue shrimp farming. In the end, the venture was not to contribute, by speaking in various venues about implemented. The people in Caravelas say that these conflicts experienced by the community we contributed to that. in Cumbe, concerning both wind farms and shrimp farms. I participate in various movements Therefore, through dissemination of in defense of the coastal zone of Ceará, in the information, communities can be educated and defense of ecosystems. For example, I’ll join the prepared, which is something we never had in discussions in PAN Mangrove Swamp - Action Cumbe. As a result of our work, other groups Plan for Threatened Species of Socioeconomic will become empowered for the struggle, and Relevance in the Mangrove Swamp Ecosystem in that makes me happy. Our struggle has a sad the Brazilian Coast, by the Ministry of Environment side, but there is also the good side of it: we are (ICMBio), which aims to establish necessary contributing to other struggles. actions for conservation, as well as to ensure . 48 49 Júlio César Ferraz de Souza “A defender of rights is a human being, as well”
úlio Cesar Ferraz de Souza, 47, has been professionals — who had not been hired through thousand people, who would not give up the Is there any achievement by the working to ensure the right to housing the appropriate civil service exam, lost their jobs. area, and made connections with churches, movement that you think is especially Jin Manaus for nearly four decades. That is when I realized I would have nowhere to politicians, universities, and so on; they showed successful? Thanks to him, thousands of people managed go. I could no longer pay rent and was evicted. their unwillingness to surrender as they marched to get their houses, as well as more suitable for 11 miles. Well, after much struggling we could regularize living conditions. He believes and bets on the I was married back then and had to find an abandoned area, originally occupied by five organization power of the homeless population as a place for us to stay. By 1995, I moved to Did you take up residence in Riacho hundred people. It is a really large area totaling a means to resist political pressures for eviction Riacho Doce, a trespass settlement, and took Doce? 1.6 million hectares. Nowadays, it has expanded and land repossession actions. Nowadays, he my first steps in the homeless struggles. I and become New Vitória. is the national leader of the Homeless Workers saw aggressions against dwellers there every No. There were many people in worse Movement. day. Actually, aggressiveness is the standard conditions than I was. I even got a plot of land, How did that happen? treatment the homeless are provided with. but there was this woman — unemployed and In the 1980s, Júlio was an active member with many kids, who needed it more than I did. With the rise of the Struggling Homeless of the Workers’ Party, while working for the So, you decided to act? I ended up assigning the plot of land to her. My Movement of Manaus, in 2000, the state government of the state of Amazon. He has a wife at the time found us a place to live, were I government hired me to deal with the homeless technical degree in pathology, but could never People were really disorganized to resist could get odd jobs, or something permanent. The affairs. The whole idea was to deal with the find a job after the struggle began. He was those attempts. I had previous experience in woman I mentioned, on the other hand, could not occupations, and to register the homeless arrested, tortured and threatened of death. With organizations, since I had worked at the health get by. for future assignment of popular plots. These his heart condition detected in 2012, he now professionals union and I had also been an active were nothing but promises. In the occasion, dreams of meeting his son again, who he has not member of the Workers’ Party. Looking at all that Was it when the homeless movement I moderated an agreement to relocate Nova seen for three years. disorganization and all the aggressions, I took of Manaus was created? Vitória inhabitants to another space within that all I had learned, the methods I mastered to the huge area; we were like a water drop within How did you start to defend housing popular movement. No. That was still an isolated activity; it was that huge land piece. However, the agreement rights? the very beginning of the fight. Back then, we was mercilessly nullified. They simply decided They were often attacked and they ran. I could still prevent an eviction in Santa Luzia. It to remove those people away for political and The journey of most homeless people starts helped them resist physical and political attacks. was a large garage that has long been occupied financial reasons. from an unemployment structural process. I used With this new mobilization strength, they got by the homeless. We won that struggle. Then, to be a pathology technician for the Manaus organized, succeeded in gaining the area and yes, there were several groups united; the That is why I quit my activities in the Bureau of Health, although I was not a civil could settle there. The area’s regularization struggle Homeless Movement of Manaus arose. government. I could not betray my group, or Nova servant. In less than one day, six thousand health was assured thanks to the resistance of three Vitória’s inhabitants. They helped others to their
50 51 Dez faces da luta pelos Direitos Humanos no Brasil
among prisoners. I bled for a week and no doctors were called. Sometime after that, my cellmate was killed right in front of me. I had never seen such cruelty. I still suffer the consequences of that... I feel terribly guilty for not being able to save him.
Nova Vitória was regularized in 2006 and it is still being threatened. He has even joined the Federal Human Rights Defenders’ Protection Program. Why? What is the current struggle?
Now we are fighting against an even bigger and more severe problem in Manaus: the “land grabbing” of public lands. “Land grabbers” took over 30 million hectares of land belonging to the federal government or granted to individuals who had not claimed it. This is a piece of land that could be used to accommodate part of the 800 thousand homeless people from Manaus. We are specially fighting for an area inÁ guas Claras, currently occupied by companies. Thence we gathered the documents and went to Brasília to request an inspection by the National Council of Justice. The decision determined the annulment of occupation of the area by companies and other “land grabbers”.
own detriment. By that time, the campground If I had chosen to remain with the government, already had basic infrastructure such as a small I would certainly have a different life. But I school, churches from different religions — no chose this. Before the regularization, there discriminations involved. I took nurses and a were numberless occasions in which the police social assistant to help. Previously excluded came and violent actions were taken in the area. people started being treated as real people. I just Personally, I have been through illegal arrest could not leave that. attempts, and later I served six months in prison. I was tortured. They wanted me to turn in names Nova Vitória was finally regularized in 2006. and addresses of the leaders of the housing There was a celebration and even homage for movement in Nova Vitória. I did not say a word, me. After all that resistance. People could resist obviously. Prisoners make no deals. to all attacks, including military operations. It was not bent down. The struggle stood up. Besides that, during imprisonment I was beaten up for one and a half hour by four men. Have you ever been threatened and I could be dead by now shouldn’t my cellmate attacked? have started shouting and started a mass 52 53 Threats began. Some coordinators and to improve the situation, realistically be able to address the problem more effectively. to Amapá and I haven’t seen him for three years. comrades died in the process. I had to remain on speaking? I recently saw a picture of him sleeping on a the alert and started to live a routine-free life and In addition, the structural unemployment park bench. While in Manaus, he was abused by even had to hide. First of all, the government should make could be dealt with more intensively, after his mother, but I just was not strong enough or room for impartiality and conversation with the all, that is what puts homeless people in the did not have the means to take care of him. I Do you think that this routine-free life movement. There must be a change on the situation they find themselves in. There should deeply regret that. Now, I am sick. I have a heart has weakened the struggle? opinion about social movements. Within the to be concessions, especially towards the less condition and need to find him while I still can. state, the movement is thought of as criminal, privileged, the unemployed, with no income and No. Our movement has been founded to and not regarded as a group of people who want lacking everything. That is why it is important that I find him. How support the absence of one leadership and to to help others, to guarantee people’s rights. can I talk about a fair and humanized society, replace it with another one. It is grounded on Did you have any other jobs after if I leave a child behind? What example am I a solid footing. I built the teams myself. They It is also necessary to set housing allotments you joined the movement, besides the standing for? No one thinks that a defender learned to work around adverse events and took for the homeless, preferably on a legal basis, position in the state government? of human rights is also a human being. The actions in my absence. The movement won’t stop since the results achieved by the movement movement struggle is progressing without me, so I could leave it behind if I had to. growing. They have already been mobilized and — regardless of the struggles — are not No. I used to make a living on odd jobs. I moved. Meetings and mobilizations take place so encouraging. After a lot of pressure, we never managed get any jobs as a pathology regardless of my presence. succeeded to determine that a small percentage technician again. You become stigmatized and of the houses that are being built for donation no job positions are offered you. Actually, it would be a smarter call for our will go to the movement in Manaus. There were opponents to have me there. I am the one person a total of 300 houses from the state government Do you have any regrets regarding within the movement that is most capable to grand plan and from the Minha Casa, Minha Vida this struggle? prevent extreme actions. I am a tolerant person, Program. and I can handle things moderately. I do not buy Saying that I have regrets would mean that I cheap radicalism, or partisanship. The movement The State of Amazon share in the Minha Casa, feel I am the one to blame. And I am not. I did no is not a party. We can’t be manipulated. We are Minha Vida Program is the largest of the Country, harm to anyone. All I wanted was to help people. independent. yet it is not sufficient for the housing deficit. Perhaps, the creation of a council for the program, What are your plans for the future? There’s as much as 800 thousand with an active participation of the society, would homeless people in Manaus. What be essential for the initiative social control in the states. Therefore, the federal government would My top priority now is my son. I had a son actions do you think could be taken with my first wife, eight years ago. They moved 54 55 Leonora Brunetto “You can’t simply leave such suffering people behind”
or over three decades the “gaúcha” pretty disorganized. They had no unions, and workers. In some regions of the Country, there How is the work you develop with (T. N.: designation of those born in Rio they could not market their grapes directly. So, I were small holders already articulating and these groups? FGrande do Sul State) Leonora Brunetto, started a project with young winegrowers there. organizing groups of youths to occupy the area. 67 years-old, has been working in advocacy of We succeeded to get them organized, to create That certainly caused conflicts. However, in other It is my job to find leaders, to train the youths, landless peasants. Sister Leonora, a member a union, and to advance relatively to land work. areas where I worked things were easier, and and to organize the groups to fight for land.W e of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of This work yielded really positive results. there was not so much violence. I could better also offer support with the documentation of the the Immaculate Heart of Mary and of the CPT accomplish my mission. We managed to help lands these groups are occupying. We check their (Land Ministry Commission), has been organizing In 1982, the Congregation invited me to work regularize the lands of 11 groups of about 50 conformity to law, because if you discover that an leaderships and empowering the youths to fight in the city of Presidente Kennedy, Tocantins families. area is a public land that has been “grabbed” – for the right to land and for issues related to (formerly part of Goiás State). There, I was also as it happens in the North of Mato Grosso, you agroecological production. invited to be part of the CPT (Land Ministry In 1992, there was this unused area that can fight for it.W hether or not they will succeed Commission). Through our work, we tried to nobody wanted to occupy in Maranhão, but I is a different story. She has worked in Rio Grande do Sul, strengthen groups of peasants to remain in their did. The situation was much more violent there. Tocantins, Rio Grande do Norte, and Maranhão. land. We also worked with groups of youths, I could be dead by now. We won at Court the However, the right is legitimate. From such Nowadays, she is a member of the CPT in Northern so there would be a continuance of the family- expropriation of public lands, which had been discovery the groups may count on our support Mato Grosso. With a soft and calm voice - but based agriculture. That was a violent time, when squatted. We also worked with groups of rural for their fight.W e struggle across different with strength, courage, and faith, she has been squatters were evicted by force. workers. In addition, we started a project with instances. Every week a group asked for help... facing the agribusiness and the “land-grabbing” European countries for the implementation of We also worked with regularized settlements, to that rule the region. She bets on the youth power We faced threats, deaths, and lost fight sustainable family-based agriculture. Regardless secure their permanence on the land. to ensure that family-based agriculture grows comrades. However, we could manage to have of all our victories and accomplishments, the stronger and remains in the area. nearly 130 families owning the land, working violence and threats situation was flagrant. With this work, we could implement some with a family-based agriculture, and providing for Next, I went to Brasília. There, I spent one year settlements. The first ones were easier because How did you start working with the the city’s demands. I haven’t stopped ever since. working with landless youths of the Capital’s the land was within a national park. Next, farmers landless? Why did you start working for surroundings. insisted on settling to obtain the legalization of human rights? In which other States did you work the land. If they legalized the campgrounds, they before Mato Grosso? What situation did In 2003, I went to Mato Grosso. There I found would also legalize other lands. The processes a long-suffering, inexperienced group. They I started working with peasants back in 1978, you face, then? slowed down after that. Some campgrounds have lacked an organized movement; the Landless in Rio Grande do Sul, where I was born. I was been claiming that for ten years before Court. Movement does not work in the region. The field a member of the Congregation of the Sisters, In 1989, I went to Rio Grande do Norte to work Legalizing lands has become harder, as a result campers’ situation was awful. We then started Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; at that in the rural area of João Câmara. There, I provided of the agribusiness growth, along with the fact working in the region. time, the winegrowers of Bento Gonçalves were training for youths and developed a project with that they are in public lands, while having political 56 57 influence and money. W e lack the influence and because there is not enough space in the What do you do to ensure their permanence of the family-based agriculture in the resources, but we are organized. It is harder. campground. In Novo Mundo, we could progress permanence in the lands? the conquered land. If a family with five kids has a little. We have moved the fence a little forward; a plot of land, this land will not be enough when Justice process is too slow. Nowadays, there I’m glad to know they have not moved it back. There are public policies focused on these kids grow up. Due to the lack of schools of are several campgrounds across public lands We started pushing it slowly; every day a little family-based agriculture, but they have been agriculture, they will be forced to study in the city, that had been “grabbed”, as well as another further. As a result, we got an area where they disregarded. Peasants cannot count on the even against their will. If they all leave, parents three with land acquisition in progress. Each can at least plant for their own survival - a sort of support of a technician. They have never been will be left behind, will grow old, and eventually campground has about 250 families. communitarian kitchen-garden. guided on how to access those policies. In the sell the land. North of Mato Grosso, we are developing a work What is the situation of these What about the legalized settlements? to make families stay. We fought for the territory, This is why we work with the youths; they campgrounds? and then we could send technicians to help 1500 are disoriented, without a direction. Life in the There are areas with seven thousand families peasants, with the aid of the Ministry of Agrarian city does not and will not provide them with that The situation is critical. No basic survival right already settled. However, not all of them benefit Development. These technicians organize the guidance. You can’t just turn a blind eye to that. is secured. This year, we only got one basic food from the government programs for settled farmers and help them market the production. In 2012 we will start a large project with young basket aid - a little bit enriched, for the whole families, especially those relating to housing. I Our workers basic problem lies on livelihood and people from seventeen cities, offering them year. There are no water and sewerage services. can’t even look at that, because I find it a disaster. marketing means. a solid education, so they can work with other The water they drink come from rivers and dams Workers have been aggrieved, since they only got youths in the future and may fight for agriculture - the same water animals drink from. It has been partial resources to build their homes. Some only We are trying to develop this job, sending schools and for schools in the rural areas, and poisoned once. We informed against it, but no got cement and tile, others did not get bricks, the farmers to the CONAB (National Food Supply may conquer their piece of land. endeavors were made. It feels like they think: and that is to say, they have been cheated. Company) and to the PNAE (School Diet National “They are campers, anyway. Let them die”. Program). In addition, we are training workers You have also worked to fight against How can you build a good settlement to start a very interesting project - which has slave work in Mato Grosso. How was As to food, they can fish in the rivers nearby like that? been used in Carlinda - named “Cisco”. Once a that? - at least, for now. It is possible to get the least week, farmers enter their products to an internet of the basics. However, sometimes I see a Settlements were not intended to work system to be sold to consumers - to individuals The Land Ministry Commission has been child holding to his mother’s cloth saying: “No out right, because it is not of interest that they or legal entities. Consumers place their orders working with the slave work issue since its pumpkin, mom...” Pumpkin is abundant in Mato succeed. Mato Grosso wants to have the largest over the internet and products are delivered to foundation. By 2006, in Mato Grosso, I took over Grosso all the time. I guess that little child will share of agribusiness. The objective is that, their homes. the program that directly deals with that. There never ever eat pumpkin again, when he can have with non-operating settlements, settled families is a central reporting hotline. In addition, we other food. would eventually sell their lands to businessmen What about your work with young investigated and continue actively investigating and large producers of soy, corn, and so on. They people? Why work with this segment? slave work situations, especially in the Luckily for us, we get a lot of clothing use that argument against our work. They tell countryside. Farms where no one was allowed donations out of Sinop citizen’s charity. We take the judge: “What is the use to let the Sister build It is untrue to affirm the youth does not want to enter; there was a set of indications of such the donations to the campground. They often the settlement, while they will be selling their land. From my experience, I have seen exactly the practice in place. Then, we started a divulging exceed the needs. However, we do not give plots later?” Considering the situation, they will opposite. In one of the campgrounds there are work. We divulged the reporting hotlines; we those for free. We sell them at a symbolic value, certainly be forced to do that. thirty youths who want to have land, in addition to talked and explained about the problem, and say, one real, fifty cents. That is to teach them learn about it. They say they don’t want to move held many assemblies. From workers reporting, how to value what they get. When you are given That was not always like this. Looking back to the city. Some of them even have jobs, but they we informed against farmers, meat packers, anything for free, you don’t care for it as if you at the settlements built in my time, I just have to prefer to return to the field. supermarkets, and cooperative enterprises. We had bought it. be happy, because most people did not sell their have had a strong support from the Prosecution lands. Furthermore, youth is the assurance of Office. 58 On the other hand, they cannot grow crops, 59 Later, they took me off the position because out. The sisters of the Congregation sometimes it was too much to cope with. At CPT, however, ask me why I look down. In some situations, it we end up working without pre-assigned roles, is impossible to be high-spirited. Throughout my but rather having one help the other. I’m still in life, I have survived various death attempts. contact with that issue. We get the impression that slave work has been reduced. However, it So, that doesn’t mean I am fearless. Every is still a strong practice, just that in a low-profile now and then, I feel afraid. On the other hand, manner. We have seen reports of workers and as long as you are afraid, there is this divine families being threatened, living under precarious force pushing you: “Don’t stop, fight on, you may diet conditions, where animals are given better go on”. So, I can leave fear aside and move on. treatment than workers. It is inhuman. During these dreadful moments, though, I try to be more careful. I stop, think, and decide if it is We get a strong support from the NGO Brasil time to take a different course or to stop. In the Repórter, which has a project against slave beginning, I was terrified. I felt like quitting. Now, work. We joined efforts to gather teachers and it is a signal for reflection. provide them with training to raise awareness on the issue, so they can reproduce that for their Do you consider quitting? students. This is a long-term work, as an attempt to change the situation. Not at all. Even if I wanted to quit now, I just couldn’t. I sometimes wonder how campers For over thirty years now, you would manage without me if I happened to quit. have been living with violence and in You can’t simply leave such suffering people situations that are difficult to handle behind. It would be easy for me. I would ask in your work. How about fear? Are you the Congregation to assign me to somewhere calmer. How would my conscience be like, then? ever afraid? Knowing I have food, shelter, a decent comfort, while others don’t? You can’t stop. God would no There are really difficult situations; we see a longer allow that. great deal of inhumanity, and that just wears you 60 61 Maria Joel Dias (Joelma) “We built this story because I did not lose courage”
he story of Maria Joel Dias, better known a small agriculture practice, family was growing, needed land to work on, to have food and to representatives. He looked for information on as Joelma, could be just another story and, in the 1980s, Pará was the promise of a become self-sufficient. In 1993, he was invited to the ownership of the lands they were in - which Tof the thousands of Brazilians who fled land of riches, money and abundant employment. be the president of the city’s Agriculture Workers was public land; then he helped workers to get to Pará State in the 1980s, looking for better My parents had already moved to Pará, and in Union. At the time, the land cause did not exist. organized, to fight and to make demands before life conditions and land to make a living on, but 1984 we decided to move into the State, too. The union existed to ensure retirement and federal and state government for the right to that found a totally different situation. Unionist José The question is that we found a labor situation some other rights. There was a stronger focus land. Ultimately, Dezinho succeeded in drawing Dutra da Costa (Dezinho), killed in 2000, was her that was totally diverse, as compared to what on welfare. the state’s attention to the land question, holding husband, and from his actions she could ensure we were familiar with. The widespread word on meetings with the participation of workers, land, hope and livelihood for part of the Brazilians the region’s richness was true: Pará is very rich. He realized that the Union not only was a putting government representatives in action, who went to Rondon do Pará, a municipality However, the conditions are totally different. gateway to welfare, but that it could create a showing the situation. Southeast of the State with about 45 thousand broader course of action in that town, and that’s inhabitants. In Maranhão, we managed the land, we why it should change in order to work on the It was eight years of struggles and another sowed, and then we harvested. We worked land issue. Therefore, he sought support from four occupations for which he fought, organizing At the age of 49, Joelma has been effectively independently, sold and consumed products. FETAGRI (Federation of Agriculture Workers in workers, and leading a resistance. He stood out working for peasants since 2002, when she In Rondon, work was not about plantation and Pará) and from the Commission of the Land as an example because his leadership made undertook the Agriculture Workers Union of the harvesting. The town offered two work fronts: Ministry. Note that he also started giving more workers continue struggling, regardless of the city - her husband’s former position. According wood and cattle breeding. We had to deforest the space for women within the union. Before that, threats and deaths. Despite the violence, these to Joelma, her struggle is a continuance of woods to create pasture for the cattle and handle women were not allowed to participate, to join as families started growing their own food. We Dezinho’s dream. For all he fought while alive, the wood extraction activity for major farmers. members, and alike. found all that beautiful; we were touched by Joelma was not omissive, thus informing against it. People were happy because they no longer “land grabbing”, wood exploration and struggling In addition, there was slave work; people did When he started this struggle, landowners needed to buy rice, wheat, and so on; they could for better life conditions. Nowadays, she is not get paid for their work, i.e.: work was not changed the way they regarded the Union. How get that from that land piece. People’s joy was the regional coordinator of the Federation of valued. Actually, it was a situation that was very could a peasant make such a fuss? He was really impressive! Agriculture Workers in Pará. different from that we used to have. starting a revolution in that town. That is when violence started. Dezinho also fought to take settlement You and your family are from How did that impact on your actions? projects to those areas, to provide a decent Maranhão. How did you end up in What kind of revolution happened? infrastructure for the camped families. However, Rondon do Pará? Why? Dezinho was a very experienced worker, you he was killed before that dream came true. know? He had a different opinion, a political When Dezinho took over the Union, you We lived in Urbano Santo, a small town in opinion on the situation. He understood what see, there were occupations surrounding the Were you also directly involved in the the countryside of Maranhão. There, we owned was necessary for people to make a living: they town already, and workers did not have any struggle by that time? 62 63 In the beginning, I was very afraid. I only prayed. himself as a simple worker. Our door was never You got strong support from other president, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva twice, to My kids were little, and I did not understand why opened. A window was used, instead, because organizations. How did that influence inform against my situation and the situation of Dezinho did all that; all the chasing was not worth we already lived in that unsafe atmosphere, then. your actions? other leaders under death threats due to land it. I wanted to have his attention on my family However, I felt sorry for that young man, let him struggles, as well as to inform against “land and myself. I tried really hard to make him leave in and even kept him company. They had an essential influence. I succeeded grabbers” and wood explorers. that, because there were many threats, and he in exposing the cause of the workers, and in could die. It was very hard for me to understand Since my husband was not home, I asked my demanding justice for my husband’s death. The FETAGRI and the Land Ministry also supported that he believed other families could provide the daughter to pick him up. The young man kept first thing I did when I undertook the Union was me in the visibility matter. They also helped me support needed. In time, he made me realize the waiting. I kept him company. As Dezinho was to look for support. We were in a critical moment, work on the base, in the union’s actions. fight was worthwhile, that someone had to fight arriving, I left the young man by the doorstep and and alone I would not succeed to perform the for an abandoned people - one without access went to my bedroom. I heard gun shots, I ran job Dezinho was kept from doing, which was left What were the main results of your to healthcare, to education, to employment, and out and saw them fighting. Dezinho had been unfinished. I was supported by organizations like actions for Rondon’s peasants, as a often to food. Since I had worked at the Ministry shot three times on the chest. They fell into a FETAGRI, the Land Ministry, the Global Justice, union president? of Children, and I knew that happened for a fact, large ditch, while I cried out for help. By the time the Human Right, among others, along these I ended up buying into the struggle, too. people came, he was already dead. eight years of activity. With the support I got, less than one year and a half later, the four campgrounds Dezinho Until 2000, when he died, I supported the Considering all that, why did you Through Justice Global, we filed a struggled for were transformed into settlement struggle, although not from within the union. I decide to take over the Union presidency? representation before the Inter-American projects. Of course, Dezinho’s death reflection participated in the meetings, in the assemblies. Commission of Human Rights, which signed speeded up things a little. We took documents Additionally, I worked selling clothes. I worked For two reasons: first, to get justice done for an agreement with Brazil to enable a series of to the presidency; we presented dossiers, and to support Dezinho’s work in the union. I made my husband’s death. The other, was because measures related to the crime against Dezinho, informed against “land grabbing”. It took his enough to get food, so he could ensure other Dezinho had a dream, and I wanted to help it among which a death indemnification. Through death to create those four settlements. It took people could have food, as well. come true. I am just a mediator of his dream. Justice Global I could also participate in a seminar another person to stand up for it. Once again, That was certainly a difficult decision to make. I in Ireland, where I could request the UN support. a revolution was born. Some said there would You mentioned that there was a lot had never thought of leading the Union. I gave it With that, many doors were opened so I could never have settlements there. “What now?” they of violence and threats against your much thought. In 2002, Dezinho’s friends invited tell my story and ask for justice. The hit man asked me. husband. How did that happen? me. was tried and sentenced to 29 years in prison, because of my struggle, although he managed to I could manage the occupation and transform That was very hard. It was eight years of a live I realized all the injustice imposed on escape from prison. The masterminds’ issue is another five areas into settlements.W e identified filled with violence. Due to the continuous threats Dezinho and other workers. Pará has a vast more complicated. Trials have been set, but they public and unproductive lands; we met, and he was out of town, and away from his family amount of land, but also a lot of needs. I could have not happened yet. I keep struggling for that. organized workers for campgrounds. We then most of the time. As to myself, I was afraid of see the carelessness, as well. So, why is it that filed reports proving that the lands were public, losing him. And I did. workers must occupy land pieces, resist, expose The Human Right, comprising of artists, has and we implemented settlement projects for the themselves, die, and only later actions are taken? been helping me a lot, exposing the cause. Who occupied lands. Nowadays, there are another He was the kind of person who would help That can’t continue. would ever imagine that four global artists would nine settlements with approximately 4 thousand anyone, even on a personal level. Whenever he come to Rondon do Pará to support peasants? families. We also got credit lines for these people, could, he provided emotional support, advices At first, my kids opposed the idea, fearing That was in 2011. We celebrate Dezinho’s through covenants signed. and even material help. A young man once I could also get killed. I had to convince them birthday every year, and in 2011, it was on a two stopped by in the evening, asking for help to of the importance to give their dad’s dream day-event, with the participation of those artists. Besides that, we provided technical education secure his grandfather’s pension, who had just continuance. He did not kill; he did not steal, but This brings visibility into the matter for the entire in farming and cattle raising for sixteen people, passed away. He was different. He introduced only stood up in defense of others’ lives. population. With their help, I could meet the then sons of farmers, so they could work with the land. 64 65 landowners have the power to move the society’s opinion against you. That is what happened. I had already spread our story all over Brazil and the world at that time. I had gained a broad visibility, I had won prizes on human rights, I had talked about my situation in the UN and I had Another six graduated in pedagogy. We also have We also need more investments in education. participated in the Fantástico Show, from Rede a Law graduate. All that through union actions. Globo TV channel. Regardless of that, I could not Education was also part of Dezinho’s dream. A date for the creation of the settlements be left alone. across occupied areas has not been scheduled I also worked to strengthen women’s actions yet. We keep fighting for them, though. Recently, Now that I am working as the regional in the struggle for the right to land. In most of the things became harder, and the interest in the coordinator of FETAGRI of Pará, actions have settlements, the Association - which is necessary, land reform nearly zeroed. The country has not become increasingly difficult, because I started is managed by women. They are equally present progressed in this area for the past couple of working across other cities, as well: mobilizing in the coordination of campgrounds from years. people, providing guidance, telling them what occupied areas. Not only men. can be done to improve their situation. This also How could you be active both in the implies in a larger number of landowners against me. They have more money, and more power. What is the current situation of the fight for justice for Dezinho’s death, and settlements in Rondon? in the struggle for rural workers and for Do you consider giving up the land, being under threat? The creation of settlements grew a new struggle? economy in the city. Because of the workers’ Threats started in 2003, proportionally to the Honestly, I have already considered that. I have rights assurance, more resources were sent to the speed the settlements spread out. Then I started been through a lot of fights, battles, and faced a municipality. I mean, the money previously spent giving interviews on Dezinho’s death and to ask lot of prosecution. We built this story because I with businesses in Rondon, now is assigned to that his murderers would be punished. I don’t did not lose courage. But I am not willing to die basic food basket aids, and to build houses in the know where I got strength from. God guided me. like Dezinho. I have four grandchildren and I am plots. That created another work front, beyond I always prayed for understanding; I prayed that confident I’ll watch them grow. wood exploration and cattle-raising. This change He would not allow me to fail. Divine force, my was notorious for the town. comrades, and other entities that supported me Nevertheless, I don’t think it is time to quit - all of them prevented me from giving up and yet. The struggle must continue. I think we need However, the situation of the settlements, helped me achieve so much. properly saying, is more complicated. There has to show to Brazil that everyone is entitled with the right to fight for their ideals, their dreams. I been slowness as to resources investment. In One of the biggest hardships I have been am sure that we, Brazilians, are citizens with the addition, we need mechanized equipment to through happened by the end of 2011, when the right to life. I am not fighting for anything bad, ensure the production, once we are not allowed to man accused of being the mastermind behind but for life: my own life, my family’s and the lives deforest because of the environment preservation Dezinho’s death would be tried in Rondon. of the peasants’ families who seek for decent aspect. Therefore, investments need to be made. The reason is that, in addition to open threats, means of living. This is what I want. 66 67 Rosivaldo Ferreira Dias (Chieftain Babau) “The sacred land should be preserved”
upinambá Rosivaldo Ferreira Dias, What is the history of the Tupinambá the deal and wait, because we had to grow When I was chosen to lead my people, I asked Chieftain Babau, has an easy smile and people with the area, now the settlement stronger, and we needed to ensure at least a the Bewitched whom the land I would fight for Tis a talented speaker. He knows the of Serra do Padeiro? small portion of land. should belong to. They said that this would not be history of his indigenous settlement in Serra do a land for the living, but it would be their home, the resting place for the many indigenous people Padeiro, Buerarema City, in the surroundings of All the area surrounding Ilhéus, and not only As a result of the agreement, our land was who were killed or left behind across Brazil. So, Ilhéus/Bahia, at the tip of his tongue. At the age Serra do Padeiro, has been marked with many split among the indigenous people already there, I accepted the responsibility. That is, when you of 38, with two kids, he has been leading his conflicts and battles for the Tupinambás lands as well as among farmers. Ten hectares were lead the living, you can often be betrayed. That tribal organization, since 2000, in the struggle since the discovery of Brazil. We have been taught assigned to a family, five hectares to another, is not possible. You can’t tell when someone will to ensure their rights. His articulation and about that from generation to generation. There and so on. However, the land was split among be corrupted. Leading for the Bewitched is based organization power, as well as his entrepreneurial is a history of various fights, about the Jesuitical indigenous and non-indigenous people alike. on the Tupinambá tradition: we are 80% spirit, spirit, enabled the reunion of about 900 people settlements (ten in that region), slaughters, Farmers were assigned the largest pieces of and only 20% matter. The sacred land must be from 180 families for a communitarian and tortures, diseases spread by non-indigenous, and land. Nowadays, 600 families own their land preserved. It is necessary for our survival. sustainable family-based agricultural production. of non-abidance to agreements. The elderly told plots across our territory. So, the situation of us those stories and we passed them on to non- our lands in Serra do Padeiro is set as follows: He coordinated 21 repossessions of lands indigenous, but they would not believe us, they one village with its Settlements (each land piece Why were you chosen as the Chieftain that had already been recognized as belonging said these were lies. We had to make a thorough assigned to indigenous families who represent a of Serra do Padeiro? to his people. Three scars from gun shots prove search for old documents to prove that we were Settlement), with private farms in between. We that the struggling is not always peaceful. He native indigenous and were entitled to the land want to remove the intruders the government has I must emphasize that the “morubixaba” suffered political oppression, criminal suits, we lived on, where our ancestors lived before us. put there in the past to dislodge them from our (the Chieftain) is not so important within the and he was arrested in 2010. Because of that, territory, which is sacred. settlement. The leading figure is represented by he was admitted to the Protection Program for All those battles were guided by the Bewitched the Shaman. However, he cannot perform rituals Human Rights Defenders, aimed at ensuring masters, who guided our people to fight or retreat Who are the Bewitched? and lead fights at the same time. Therefore, the the continuance of his struggle for the right to - depending on the situation, through rituals. Chieftain is responsible for organizing the people. land and for the Tupinambá culture preservation. Serra do Padeiro has always been regarded as In our religion, Tupã is the supreme god, and Historically, our social organization does not However, none of that seems to lower his a sacred land, home of the Bewitched. In the he uses the Bewitched to communicate with have a Chieftain. But in time, with the presence willingness to lead the struggle that goes beyond 1950s, my grandfather was the Shaman. The us. They are like direct messengers. They are of FUNAI (National Foundation for Indigenous land possession issues, but which is also about government tried to dislodge our people from the our guardian angels; they are our bewitched. Peoples), we submitted to that, since it was traditions, religious matters and environmental area, but they had no success. So, they offered In the early 2000s, they said it was time for the necessary to discuss indigenous rights outside preservation: according to the Tupinambás of us a deal. Since we were in small number, due to Tupinambás to claim for their land. In addition, it the settlement. Initially, they appointed someone Serra, Serra do Padeiro is regarded as a sacred a malaria epidemic – which killed 66 thousand was time to ensure protection to nature, because from the community, but that did not work. So, I land and should be fully and integrally returned people, the Bewitched told our people to accept we are protectors. took over in 2004. to its original inhabitants. 68 69 By that time you were a leading figure ourselves - with small plots of lands registered At that moment, they had to come together, Since families are large, the resources are in the community, right? How was the in the past. We reunited with these two and I and try to understand our culture. They thought still insufficient. W e lead an excellent lifestyle, process to make you the leader? encouraged them to get organized, so that when those were mere occupations, but we were as compared to other settlements. However, we the Tupinambá claimed the lands, they would not actually protecting an entire ecosystem. We are are still learning how to trade our production. We Well, I did not get here all of a sudden. Since be forsaken. not concerned about our lives only. The Bewitched need training. We used to be ripped off in the past I was little, I used to be chosen to accompany made us guardians of the area. Therefore, if because we lacked commercial expertise. We the elderly. So, I became knowledgeable on the After the identification process, what something goes wrong with the ecosystem, that attended training. We started to train indigenous settlement’s history. When I was eight, we were did you do? can affect us all. We do not have to solve Nature’s people to deal with that. We built a well organized not allowed to study at white men’s school. problem. It is not simple. association. To sum up: we are a very strong Three days before my grandfather, the Shaman, In addition, we started visiting other organization. As a result, the criminalization passed, a Bewitched asked us to reunite the settlements, where we found a lot of disbelief Because of that, when we started the process started. family. He then stated that from that day on, me and no mobilization. The indigenous were repossession of the territories, our people became and my other two brothers would study at the fully dependant on the government, what the stronger to a level that I had to hold them back, You mean, because of your white men’s school to learn their history, without Tupinambás of Serra never were. Apparently, so they would only repossess abandoned lands. organization power? forgetting our origins. It was a mission we had they lost their indigenous identity. For that reason, With the lands, we started planting, producing. to accomplish to ensure our land in the future. besides the repossession activities, we created We have placed people to protect the forest and Yes. Attacks began when they realized about Then, we went to school. the Cultural and Land Seminary of the Youths. to keep hunters away. We did things like fixing our organization power. Starting in 2008, more Growing was not enough. We wanted other ethnic drugs to make their dogs lose their sense of specifically when we were well consolidated. As I grew older, it became harder to follow groups to also understand their role and to learn smell. And they did. They were disoriented in the How could these indigenous people become the studies. I lived in the settlement, and left about what was going on. It is worth saying that settlement and we told hunters never to come entrepreneurs, after all? The association was early to work - often before sunrise, to load and we counted on the CIMI (Missionary Indigenous back. They did not. prosecuted as an association among criminals, unload trucks with our production. I came back Council) help, since we had never done anything which needs to be locked up. We are involved home, late in the afternoon, and still had to go like that, but wanted to show our relatives (other What is the current economic in over 30 legal proceedings. In 2010, my to school, in the city. Next, I decided to study in indigenous) how we were acting in Serra do activity of the settlement? What is your sister was arrested with a 2 months-old child Cabrália, further South of Bahia. Because of the Padeiro. This caused other settlements to get production system like? in her arms because she was the president of strong connection we have with our homeland, I mobilized and to start their own rights struggle the association, and she managed to hand a returned to Serra do Padeiro once every fortnight. processes. We are an essentially agrarian people. We have document to the then President Lula, informing I returned from Cabrália with documents and a communitarian production type since forever – against threats over the settlement. They started proofs, and I checked all the information I had When did the land repossessions in the past, it has been considered as communist referring to me as the South Bahia “Lampião” (T. learned from the elderly. I returned for good in start? and it was used to criminalize the Tupinambás. N.: famous outlaw, whose band terrorized the 2001, to clarify our relatives about our rights. We consider the settlement as a whole. A group Brazilian Northeast in the 1920s and 1930s). First, we reunited to get organized and to learn People do not understand that the Tupinambás of indigenous people get together each day and about the non-indigenous living in our lands. of Serra do not indiscriminately occupy the land. In then they go to a certain crop, regardless of who They wanted to dismantle our social 2004, we had two repossessions of lands whose owns the area. We cultivate cocoa, pineapple, organization, to level us to other indigenous – Who were those non-indigenous owners were offensively usurping our territory, cassava and plantain. After harvesting, the i.e., dependant on the government’s basic food people? indiscriminately extracting wood and hunting Tupinambá Indigenous Association of Serra do basket aids. That was never us. We are a very wild animals. We then occupied the area to Padeiro sells the products and retains 30% of proud people. We identified farmers - most of whom with prevent such attacks. Those were unproductive, the income to reinvest in materials and in other unproductive lands, who not even visited the abandoned lands. Actually, nearly all of our 21 needs of the settlement. The remaining 70% is location, squatter families - with no registries on occupations were in similar situation. equally split among workers. the land, homeless people, and small holders like 70 71 How did your imprisonment affect What are your plans for the future? the organization? We, the Tupinambás, never stop. We only It was not only about my imprisonment, but the think of what the Indigenous Peoples deserve. entire criminalization process and police attacks, Now, we want to build an indigenous university while my sister and I were in prison. We had a at a just-repossessed land, without conflicts schedule for every five years. If we had done all or fights. This land, by the way, already counts as planned, each family would make a monthly on the proper infrastructure. Indigenous people R$ 1,200.00 by 2010. You can lead a good life will never be respected and get an effectively on that. The continuous attacks during that year differentiated education, if there is not a university cut down our resources to nearly R$ 160.00 per especially tailored for them. Modular training and month. We lost plantations and were forbidden to things the government provides are not good for trade the production. We were in a really difficult us. Today, there are 26 indigenous lawyers, over situation. Precisely us, who had never asked 20 sociologists, nutritionists, and so on, in Brazil. for anything. While we were in prison, we had There are indigenous with college degree in a contact with representatives from the Protection variety of areas. Not having our own university, Program for Human Rights Defenders. We were enabling us to edit our own material and build admitted to the program - that was a support our own education is a tragedy. So, we bought for our struggle. They helped us contact other this struggle. institutions. Then, the State acknowledged our quest, our struggle for indigenous rights. Only by There are other improvement plans in force. 2012 we started recovering. The road is under construction. We are building up a bridge to connect the settlement to both On the other hand, those attacks allowed sides of the river. We intend to build a pastry us to realize how the Tupinambás of Serra are shop, and buy a depulper for fruits - cocoa esteemed. They are warriors, yet esteemed. rate is low and we can sell processed fruit at Organizations, universities and members of the higher prices. We are considering the creation of Congress, among others, mobilized against the Tupinambá flour brand, which is recognized as facts. Money cannot buy the acceptance real the best in the region. We also have dams in our Brazilians did and do offer to us. lands, where we can breed fish. There are many things we can undertake. Support is all we need. 72 73 Saverio Paolillo (Priest Xavier) “Our work is misunderstood”
orn in Italy, Priest Saverio Paolillo, better children and adolescents’ rights in true street work, and getting a response to the the scenery of riots that left a track of destruction known as Priest Xavier in Brazil, has Brazil? various challenges found. and cruelties against hostages. The employees Bbeen working for the rights of Brazilian work conditions were inhuman, as well. children and adolescents since 1985. Along I am a member of Comboni’s Missionaries From this contact in the streets, we came 50 years in this path, the priest has created Congregation. I was a seminarian and had not yet across prostitution among young children and After the new Federal Constitution was countless projects, both in São Paulo and in completed my theology studies. I read the Latin- youths. We then created a temporary home enacted, we were fully involved in the process Espírito Santo. Among his achievements, there American theological literature and became for female adolescents. We also developed of discussing and approving the ECA (Child are shelters, homes, defense centers, monitored familiar with the journey of the Base Ecclesiastical professional training, cultural workshops and and Adolescent Statute). The CEDECA (Center freedom programs, professional training projects Communities, and then I requested to complete sports activities to tackle violence and crime, as of Defense of Child and Adolescent Rights) and welfare work for sheltered boys’ and girls’ my studies in Brazil. I arrived in São Paulo in well as drug traffic and usage. To ensure religious was founded in 1991. It is an organization that families or who are in an unlawful position. November, 1985. Our educational center was in assistance for adolescents and youths deprived cooperates with other institutions integrating the Parque Santa Madalena, suburban area in the from freedom, we started making weekly visits to Childhood and Adolescence Rights Assurance As a member and coordinator of the Ministry East side of São Paulo. The aim was to provide FEBEM (Institution for reforming young offenders) System. Its mission is to make children and of the Minor, he has informed against countless education for a community-inserted priesthood. and to jails in precincts. We prioritized two lines adolescents human rights a reality. With the situations of human rights violations across Thanks to the location, I could share the “favela” of action: the street situation and transgressing CEDECA, we started offering legal, psychological adolescents’ confinement units. He succeeded (T. N.: a settlement of jerry-built shacks lying on adolescents. and welfare assistance. CEDECA’S biggest in exposing the issue internationally, as he took the outskirts of a Brazilian city) inhabitants’ way dream was to make the Statute come true. We the subject to the attention of the Inter-American of living. Since the work in place only focused The ECA (Child and Adolescent wanted to provide children and adolescents with Court of Human Rights. He also acted as a on children, we decided to approach adolescents Statute) did not exist back then, nor tools enabling them to demand the assurance of moderator in innumerous conflicts and riots. and youths across the region — most vulnerable there a series of attempts currently used their rights through the new law. to drug traffic and criminality. Priest Xavier is a member of the State to appease the situation across these However, our priority continued to be the socio-educational units. What was the Council of Human Rights and the State Council Experimentally, we accompanied adolescents work with transgressing adolescents. We created of Children and Adolescents Rights of Espiríto in the collection of cardboard, so we could better situation you found in FEBEM units like? a program to execute the socio-educational Santo. He thinks that his work is misunderstood. grasp their reality, and to overcome their distrust measure of LAC (Communitarian Monitored He suffers daily pressure for defending the rights towards our job. This was a very interesting It was a complex one. Units were constantly Freedom). In 1987, LAC was created by the of a portion of the population; above all, in his experience, since it allowed us to enter the overcrowded. The adolescents were always Ministry of the Minor, long before ECA had been opinion they need public policies to put human world of those boys and girls. We could see the downcast, hands behind their backs. There enacted. It is a socio-educational measure that rights into effect. suffering they had to face, especially as to the were few activities and they were idle most of features most favorable results, since it enables discrimination caused by the situation they were the time. They reported abuse, arbitrariness was for a socio-educational action that effectively How did you start dealing with in. From that moment, we started developing a allegedly perpetrated within the units, either by involves the community and the family in employees or other adolescents. The units were assisting transgressing adolescents. 74 75 I suffered a lot of pressure at that time. I was situation, listened to their complaints and, based violations to human rights, in a joint effort with Projects are not welfarist, but rather aimed threatened a couple of times. I was accused on that, I wrote reports. From those reports the Global Justice organization and the Human at contributing for the full development of of being a “defender of criminals”. There was informing against irregularities, lack of material, Rights Defense Center of Serra, we decided children and adolescents, so they live as ethical, a fierce game being played as an attempt to and Human Rights violation, by the end of 2002, to globally expose the problem of the socio- responsible, competent and solidary citizens. disable our work. Actually, we have never been they determined a six months long intervention in educational units across the state, generating Note that, by offering homes and shelters, condescending with violence and criminality. the agency that managed the units. There were reports and looking to the Inter-American Court our objective is to try to resume family bonds, On the contrary, we stood for legality and peace not time and conditions enough to improve the of Human Rights. The matter was submitted to get adolescents close to their families and to culture. We wanted to do exactly the opposite. We situation. Rights violation continued. Regardless the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which the community again, as per the Child and wanted to withdraw adolescents from criminality of the good faith from the employees, it would imposed temporary measures be in force until Adolescent Statute. If that is not possible, we look through public policies enabling access to all be impossible to perform a good job under such the end of 2012. for foster families, along with the Juvenile Court. human rights. conditions. Riots happened. I was called to help Late adoption is really difficult, though. Only with negotiations in some of them. Some things have already been changed, few couples are willing to adopt adolescents. I was transferred to Espírito Santo in 1999. In especially as to the architectural adjustments So, we also prepare them for an independent São Paulo, everything is huge. I used to deal with What was your role in the negotiation and to the decentralization of the units. Reports life, both psychologically and emotionally, and a really large number of adolescents doing time process? on alleged tortures and abuse have been equally in an economic perspective, so they may lead in reformatories — some units with nearly 1200 reducing. All units now have an educational plan. independent lives when they leave the project. boys — and a large number of young adults. I Our work was to mediate the conflicts. I Adolescents have greater access to activities. thought I could then live a calmer life in a smaller explained for the adolescents that I was not there Employees now can better identify with their We also run a project that performs socio- state. to make promises. I only requested immediate jobs. The Court, the Prosecution Office, and the educational actions of Communitarian Monitored release of hostages. I made it clear that I would Executive Power created an inter-institutional Freedom, where we assist 400 youths. Project Was it what you found? not negotiate during the riot, but only after system that, in partnership with the civil society, mission is to provide adolescents with support hostages were released. I understand the riot, is monitoring the work across units and looking to end their transgression actions through No. When I got to Serra, in Espírito Santo especially those with hostages, but damages for solutions to challenges. We see there is instruments to arouse their respect by rules in State - metropolitan region of Vitória Capital to the assets is a crime. All I promised after a collective endeavor to build a new socio- place and citizenship. The work involves families City, I continued working with transgressing the riot and release of hostages was to follow educational system. We continue following this and the community. That is an alternative for the adolescents, by visiting reformatories. The first police operations to prevent any sort of violent process. imprisonment of transgressing adolescents - low unit I visited was really small, with only 120 retaliation. I just did not want to encourage the and moderate levels of transgression. adolescents. Facilities were hideous. idea that their rights could be ensured by holding Besides working directly with the socio-educational agents or other adolescents as reformatory units, did you continue to Monitored Freedom is a socio- Adolescents were locked in cells at precinct- hostages. As a defender of human rights I could work with children living on the streets educational measure that, as per child like facilities. The building was old, located in a not tolerate any violence. In 2003, I started being of Espírito Santo? and adolescence movement, could be residential area, which caused a strong hostility threatened, as a result of my actions across further implemented in the country. In from inhabitants due to riots, problems, and reformatories. I spent a year under police escort. Yes. Since I started working in Espírito your opinion, why isn’t that so? shouting. I visited other units in similar situation. Santo, in partnership with other institutions, That troubled me because they were less What is the situation like today? we created a network of eight interconnected Disbelief towards socio-educational numerous and it should not be difficult to solve projects, which provide temporary acceptance, measures in open environments somewhat the problems. An institutional reorganization process took professional training and activities on longer derives from the society pressure, which place from 2003 to 2009. They endeavored to periods. Thousands of children and adolescents believes that violence should be fought mostly My visits created many conflicts, since I adjust the units to the new legal paradigms, as have participated in our projects for the past 12 through mass imprisonment. The adolescents began to visit the units on weekly basis. Besides foreseen in the ECA. The actions were insufficient, months. We have a website telling the story of or “minors”, as they are normally referred to, the ministry’s religious assistance, as a Human though. In 2009, due to persistent and severe the network:
ur especial thanks to all those directly Equally noteworthy is the earnest work of or indirectly involved in making the Delegation of the European Union in Brazil, Othis book, from its conception to its represented by Ambassador Ana Paula Zacarias, final publication.W ithout your support, this with the support of Mrs. Maria Rosa Sabbatelli, undertaking would not have been successful. Cooperation Advisor, and Nathalie Jellinek, head of the Political Section. We also thank the For all the support we had in our contact with National Board of the Supporting Project for the ten leaders featured in this publication, we Sector Dialogues of the Ministry of Planning, extend our congratulations to the Coordinators Budget and Management, for all their endeavors of the State Protection Program for Human towards the accomplishment of this publication, Rights Defenders, Mr. José Antônio Carvalho, and other activities related to the management by the state of Bahia; Mrs. Tassiana Lima, by of the Project. the state of Ceará; Mrs. Marta Falqueto, by the state of Espírito Santo, Mrs. Maria Emília Special mention is made as to the essential Silva, by the state of Minas Gerais; Mrs. Camila role in the completion of this book played by the Dias Cavalcanti and Mr. Luiz Marcos Carvalho, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Coordinators of the Federal Technical Team of the represented by Mr. Kees Rade, Ambassador and Protection Program for Human Rights Defenders. Plenipotentiary, and Mr. Levi Nietvelt, Secretary for Political Affairs; and, by the United Nations We are grateful for the participation of the Program for Development, herein represented Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency by the Coordinators Mrs. Larissa Vieira Leite and of Brazil, represented by Mr. Biel Rocha, National Mrs. Maria Leticia Barrios Trullols. Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, and by the Director, Mrs. Luciana Last but not least, we thank Mr. Carlos Garcia; by Mr. Igo Martini, General Coordinator Eduardo da Cunha Oliveira, Head of Human of the Protection Program for Human Rights Rights Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defenders, and by the Coordinators, Mrs. Renata for his kind support in the work to accomplish Sena and Mrs. Raiana Falcão; by Mr. Bruno Renato this book. Teixeira, National Human Rights Ombudsman; by Mrs. Tassia Rabelo de Pinho, General Coordinator of the Council for the Defense of the Rights of the Human Person; by Mrs. Michelle Morais de Sá e Silva, General Coordinator for Monitoring of International Cooperation Projects, and by the Technical Advisor, Mr. Pedro Henrique Angoti de Moraes. 82 83