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

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