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
