Guarani Indians Face Eviction from Ancestral Lands
Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises
7/22/98
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Guarani Indians Face Eviction from Ancestral Lands
Source: Survival International
Status: Distribute freely with proper credit to source
Date: 7/22/98
Survival has just learned of an attempt to force a community of Guarani Indians
from Potrero GuaĜu, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, from their
ancestral lands. In a judgment issued on July 20, a local judge has ordered that
the Guarani Indians be removed from their lands. The Indians, he said, were
"invaders" who were illegally occupying land which belonged to ranchers.
The judgment comes just three months after the Guarani successfully reoccupied
their ancestral lands, from which they were evicted in the 1970s and 1980s.
FUNAI, the Brazilian government Indian Agency, has started the process of
recognising the lands as belonging to the Guarani, so this latest judgment comes
as a blow to the campaign to secure lasting land rights for the Guarani, Brazil's
largest indigenous group.
Background On April 20, 19948, around 700 Guarani Indians started to reoccupy
ancestral lands from which they were evicted in the 1970s and 1980s. In the three
months since thereoccupation, the 108 families have since built homes and started to
plant crops.
Since being forced off their ancestral lands, the Guarani have made repeated
demands their demarcation. In November 1997, community leaders went to Brasilia to
demand action. Despite work on identifying Guarani lands beginning in December,
there are few signs of any progress.
In a letter to FUNAI (the government Indian agency) on April 19, the Guarani
said that FUNAI, "have not listened to us and we have seen no action by the authorities.
We have already waited many years and many months. For this reason, we have decided
to occupy our tekoha again today. We are exercising our right to have our Tekoha (land).
Andwe willnever ever leave there again!"
Statement of the Guarani of Potrero GuaĜu
On 19 April, we the indigenous people of the community of Potrero GuaĜu met to
discuss and to decide what to do about or traditional land or "tekoha".
We want the President of FUNAI together with the General Procurator to listen to
our demands and to take measures to restore our land to us. Because up to now they
have not listened to us and we have seen no action by the authorities since the survey of
our traditional tekoha, Potrero GuaĜu.
We have already waited many years and many months and in the meantime there have
been fights with the Indians of Pirajui and even more serious things could happen if
the authorities delay any more.
For this reason, we have decided to occupy our tekoha again today. We are
exercising our right to have our Tekoha (land).
And we will never ever leave there again! Instead of us, those who have to
leave are the settlers' families.
April 19, 1998
Notes to Editors 1. With a population of 25,000, the Guarani Indians are
Brazil's largest indigenous people. However, social problems caused by lack of
land has driven many Guarani to alcoholism and suicide. There have been over
250 suicides reported over the last 12 years. 2. The Guarani lands are currently
occupied by ranches and agricultural plots.
Survival
Press Officer: Richard Garside
11-15 Emerald Street
London WC1N 3QL
United Kingdom
Phone: 0171-242 1441
Fax: 0171-242 1771
Email: survival@gn.apc.org
Internet: http://www.survival.org.uk/
Survival is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples. It stands for
their right to decide their own future and helps them protect their lives, lands
and human rights.
Amanaka'a joins Survival International in their concern for the Guarani Kaiowa
community of Potrero Guacu. We received the same news in Portuguese yesterday
from CIMI/MS, which works directly with the Guarani, and were happy to receive
Survival's English version shortly afterwards, distributed by the International Rivers
Network.
We urge you to write to the following Brazilian government officials regarding
this urgent situation, as requested by CIMI.
We understand that you may not be able to write all six; write to as many as you
can. Please state your solidarity with the community of Potrero Guacu, and ask the
authorities to do all in their power to prevent the eviction from taking place. Thanks for
your help and solidarity on this issue!
NOTE: For folks in the US: the fax numbers to Brazil must be prefixed by 011 55
- followed by the numbers listed above. I'm not sure what it is in other
countries... All numbers above include area codes. Please send us a copy of your letters.
Sr. Heliomar Klabunde
Prefeito Municipal de Paranhos, MS (local mayor) Av. Marechal Dutra, 1.500 -
Centro
79.925-000 Paranhos, MS Brazil
Fax: 67 480 1205 or 67 480 1225
Sr. Wilson Barbosa Martins
Governor of Mato Grosso do Sul
Parque dos Poderes - Bloco 8
79.013-902 Campo Grande, MS Brazil
Fax: 67 726 4176
Sr. Sulivan Silvestre
President of FUNAI
SETS Quadra 702/902, Edificio Lex, 3 Andar Bloco A 70.340-904 Brasilia, DF
Brazil
Fax: 61 226 8627
Sr. Renan Calheiros
Minister of Justice
Ministerio da Justicia
Esplanada dos Ministerios Bloco T
70.064.900 Brasilia, DF Brazil
Fax: 61 224 2448
Ilmo. Sr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso
President of Brazil
Palacio do Planalto, 3 Andar
Praca dos Tres Poderes
70.150-900 Brasilia, DF Brazil
Fax: 61 226 7566
[judge sitting on this case:]
Dr. Jose Carlos Francisco
Juiz Federal Substituto da 1 Vara Federal de Dourados Av. Joaquim Teixeira
Alves, 3070
Dourados, MS Brazil
Fax: 67 424 1999