Document - Brazil: Fear for safety/Sexual Violence

BRAZIL Brazil: Fear for safety/Sexual Violence

PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 19/020/2007
06 November 2007

UA 293/07 Fear for safety/Sexual Violence

BRAZIL700 members of the Guarani Kaiowá community of Nhanderu Marangatu


The Guarani Kaiowá community of Nhanderu Marangatu in the Antonio João municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul state, are in imminent risk of danger. Around 30 private security guards working for local landowners have repeatedly threatened the community by firing shots in the air. The security guards have also been accused of raping three indigenous women so far this year. The atmosphere of constant fear and intimidation is preventing the Guarani Kaiowá from going about their daily lives.

Since the first week of October, security guards have been firing into the air fifty metres away from indigenous houses. In one incident they fired bullets close to a group of children who were playing. Last week an indigenous woman accused one of the security guards of raping her while she was collecting firewood; the woman’s husband was allegedly beaten when he attempted to defend his wife. "Without firewood we can’t cook, and the children go hungry," said indigenous leader Léia Aquino. "Since the beginning of October, the situation here has become more difficult. We have denounced what has happened, but FUNAI [Fundação Nacional do Indio, National Indigenous Foundation FUNAI] still hasn’t come here."

The indigenous group have also reported the incidents to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, (Ministério Publico Federal) and the Federal Police. The community claims that the police only respond to requests from the landowners. On 31 October, while the community was performing a ritual in homage to their dead, the Federal Police arrived at the site to investigate claims made by the landowners that the community was trying to invade neighbouring farmlands.

In their last Guarani community meeting which took place from 26 to 28 October in the Sombrerito village, Marangatu leaders complained that the security guards were making it impossible to live there. They called on the Federal Supreme Court to rule on the registration of their lands.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The 9,316 hectare Ñanderu Marangatu lands were officially ratified by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 23 March 2005. After a judicial challenge at state level, the then President of the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, STF) Nelson Jobim, suspended the President’s ruling, pending the resolution of the appeal. On 15 December 2005, 150 Military Police officers enforced an eviction order (see UA 178/05, AMR 19/036/2005, 16 August 2005), using helicopters and heavy arms, driving the community into an encampment of makeshift shacks by the side of the highway. Soon after, on 24 December, community leader Dorvalino Rocha was shot dead by security guards hired by the landowners.

After seven months by the side of the highway, the community was moved back into 100 hectares of farmlands, with the agreement of local landowners, to allow for the asphalting of the road. Since the move the owners of the land have maintained a heavy presence of private security guards. The ruling on the landowners’ appeal remains stalled in the STF, exposing the Guarani to violence and severe economic deprivation.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, Portuguese, English or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety the Guarani Kaiowá community of Nhanderu Marangatu in the Antonio João municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul state who are under threat of imminent violence;
- urging the authorities to adopt immediate measures for their protection, as well as guaranteeing their long-term security by ensuring the completion of the process of land ratification;
- urging that the threats and attacks against the Guarani Kaiowá, especially the rapes of three Guarani Kaiowá women, be fully and transparently investigated and those responsible for carrying out the attacks be brought to justice;
- urging the federal authorities to thoroughly investigate private security companies and their role in cases of human rights violations against indigenous peoples, and calling on them to introduce regulations in accordance with human rights standards to control this industry;
- reminding the authorities the failure to fulfil the Guarani Kaiowá’s constitutional rights to land has put them at risk of both physical violence and economic deprivation.

APPEALS TO:

Minister for Justice
Exmo. Sr. Tarso Genro
Esplanada dos Ministérios,
Bloco "T"
70.712-902 - Brasília/DF
Fax: + 55 61 3322 6817
Salutation: Exmo. Sr. Ministro

COPIES TO:

President of the Federal Supreme Court
Supremo Tribunal Federal
Exma. Presidente Ellen Gracie Northfleet
Praça dos Três Poderes,
Edifício Sede, 3° Andar 70.175-900 - Brasília
Fax: + 55 61 3217 4249

Federal Human Rights Secretary
Secretaria Especial de Direitos Humanos
Exmo. Secretário Especial
Sr. Paulo de Tarso Vannuchi
Esplanada dos Ministérios - Bloco "T" - 4º andar, 70.064-900 - Brasília/DF – Brasil
Fax: + 55 61 3226 7980

Conselho Indigenista Missionário, (CIMI – local NGO)
Cimi Regional Mato Grosso do Sul
Av. Afonso Pena, 1557 Sala 208 Bl.B
Campo Grande - MS - CEP 79002-070
Fax (CIMI Nacional): + 55 61 2106 1651

and to diplomatic representatives of Brazil accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 18 December 2007.
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Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom

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