Amanaka'a Amazon Network, July 26, 1998 Guarani Indians face eviction from their Ancestral Lands Survival has just learned of an attempt to force a community of Guarani Indians from Potrero Guaçu, 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 recognizing 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 the reoccupation, 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). And we will never ever leave there again! Statement of the Guarani of Potrero Guaçu On 19 April, we the indigenous people of the community of Potrero Guaçu 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 Guaçu. 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: 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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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. What You Can Do 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. For further information: Please contact Amanaka'a or read the previous Guarani urgent action alert. Please Write >>>>>>>>>>>> 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 Gross de Sul Parque de 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 Amanaka'a Amazon Network, 7/26/1998. Amanaka'a Amazon Network Tel: 212.253.9502 Fax: 212.253.9507 60 East 13th Street, 5th floor - New York, NY 10003 CIMI Tel/Fax: 011 55 67 384 5551 Louis Proyect (http://www.panix.com/~lnp3/marxism.html)
