Day 238 - 22 Apr 96 - Page 11


     
     1        problem is particularly acute in the states Mato Grosso do
     2        Sul, Matto Gross, Rondonia, Roraima and Para. When fiscal
     3        incentives for ranching were created by the Brazilian
     4        Government, many indigenous areas were and continue to be
     5        illegally invaded, and in a number of cases appropriated by
     6        ranchers.  Cattle ranching has therefore caused:
     7
     8        1.  Displacement of indigenous peoples from their lands, to
     9        which they have original and inalienable rights as
    10        enshrined in the Brazilian Constitution (Article 231).
    11        Having been thrown off their land, many Indians have been
    12        resettled on inferior land often totally inadequate for
    13        them to live off in terms of size and available resources.
    14        Some have been forced to adopt other means of livelihood
    15        placing them in an alien market economy where they are
    16        exploited.
    17
    18        2.  Increased violence towards indigenous peoples who are
    19        routinely threatened and in some cases have been murdered
    20        by ranchers when attempting to defend their lands from
    21        invasion or wholesale takeover.
    22
    23        3.  Devastation of indigenous people principal means of
    24        livelihood by destroying their resources, eg game, fishing,
    25        agricultural plots, and forests and/or livelihood cerrado
    26        containing trees and plants used for medicinal purposes,
    27        handicrafts, housing and hunting materials. Fencing put up
    28        by ranchers has often impeded indigenous peoples ability to
    29        hunt.
    30
    31        4.  Introduction of diseases to which many indigenous
    32        peoples have no resistance.  Isolated peoples are
    33        particularly vulnerable.  Roads built and/or maintained by
    34        ranchers have acted as corridors for migration bringing
    35        great fluxes of colonists who have invaded indigenous
    36        peoples' lands spreading disease and violence.
    37
    38        5.  In dry areas indigenous peoples have been deprived of
    39        water which has been used by herds.
    40
    41        6.  Cultural devastation - losing ancestral land with which
    42        indigenous peoples have strong spiritual as well as
    43        material ties.
    44
    45        I would be happy to expand on this statement should it if
    46        necessary.  I shall be out of Britain from the 12th
    47        February to 20th March, 1996."
    48
    49   Q.   Was that when you went to Brazil?
    50        A.  I went to Guyana. 
    51 
    52   Q.   "Fiona Watson, 9th February, 1996".  That is your signature 
    53        yes?
    54        A.   Yes.
    55
    56   Q.   Do you stand by that statement as evidence in Court today?
    57        A.   I do.
    58
    59   Q.   Moving on to the second statement:
    60

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