Day 238 - 22 Apr 96 - Page 14
1 to enable the Indians to live sustainably and
2 independently. One of the most tragic reactions to this
3 loss of land and identity has been the high number of
4 suicides by the sub group of Guarani, the Kaiowa. In the
5 last decade nearly two hundred Guarani Kaiowa have
6 committed suicide due to lack of land. (Comissao Pro-Indio,
7 Sao Paulo 1996)?
8 A. Yes. I would like to add there that even the Brazilan
9 Government is now extremely concerned about the situation
10 of the Guarani people in Mato Grosso do Sul. I recently
11 met the Minister of Justice from Brazil when he was over
12 here in Europe and he admitted that it is a serious
13 situation.
14
15 In 1994 the then Attorney-General of Brazil, Aristidi
16 Cuerra(?), visited the area and made a public statement
17 saying that cows are worth more than Indian lives. In
18 other words, indigenous peoples are at the bottom of the
19 pile. Next month's Survival International will host the
20 visit of two Kaiowa Indians who are coming to Europe to
21 lobby the European Parliament which has just passed a very
22 strong resolution condemning the Brazilian Government on a
23 new decree that it has just issued which is opening up
24 indigenous lands to outside interests, and they will also
25 visit the United Nations as well as coming to this country
26 to meet government officials in Britain to put the
27 situation of the Guarani people, particularly in reference
28 to the suicides.
29
30 Q. Are you involved in organizing that visit?
31 A. Yes, I am.
32
33 Q. You are the organizer?
34 A. I am one of the organizers, yes.
35
36 Q. One of the organizers. Continuing to read:
37
38 "The Brazilian Constitution (Article 231) recognizes
39 indigenous peoples original rights to occupy and use their
40 lands which are considered inalienable. In practice these
41 rights are continually violated. The Brazilian government
42 recently signed a decree, known as Decree 1775/96 on
43 8 January 1996 which effectively opens up Indian lands,
44 already demarcated by the federal government, to challenges
45 from outsiders (see Survival International statement).
46 Condemned by many senators and deputies in Brazil and by
47 the European Parliament, this decree has already acted as a
48 catalyst for those wishing to exploit Indians lands,
49 including some ranchers in Mato Grosso do Sul.
50
51 The following examples illustrate the conflict and violence
52 as Indians land rights in Mato Grosso are continually
53 violated.
54
55 In 1983, Marcal de Sousa Guarani, one of Brazil's most
56 prominent and outspoken leaders, was assassinated. He had
57 refused to accept a bribe to convince some Guarani-Kaiowa
58 to move from their land at Piracua coveted by a rancher, Sr
59 Monteiro Lima."
60
