Brazilian Landless Movement in UK

[Lilia Patterson]

----------
From: Mark Lynas <mark at oneworld.org>
Subject: Leader of Brazilian landless movement visits Oxford
Date: 30 May 2000 10:47

LEADER OF BRAZILIAN LANDLESS VISITS BRITAIN

A leader of the Brazilian Landless Movement (MST), Mr. Jorge Neri, will be
visiting England from 12th to 15th of June/2000.  He is seeking
international support for a fair trial of those responsible for the
terrible
massacre in April 1996 at Eldorado dos Carajás, in the Brazilian State of
Para.

The MST is a national organisation, operating in 24 out of 27 Brazilian
States. It fights for land reform in a country where 1% of the population
own 46% of the land. MST local groups organise occupations of unproductive
land, thereby pushing the Brazilian Government to accelerate the land
reform. Once they have occupied the land, local groups organise their own
organic food production, and health and education services.

19 people were murdered and 69 were mutilated at the massacre of Eldorado
dos Carajás. 1,500 landless had been blocking a road in protest at the
delay
in settling landless people. They were trapped on both sides of the road by
the state military police of Para, who started shooting and beating them.
Among the landless, a 17 year old leader (Oziel Alves Pereira) was
executed.

Last year, three police commandants were initially found innocent in a
court
of law.  But, after international and national outrage, the trial was
suspended. The next session of the trial will commence in July of this
year.
However, the newly nominated judge, who specifically asked to take on the
case, is well known for his strong opposition to MST, having ruled against
the Movement in many other cases. It is vital, therefore, that the eyes of
the world are on this trial so that justice is done

Mr. Jorge Neri, aged 35, is one the survivors of the roadblock in Eldorado
dos Carajás, and was part of the Negotiation Committee.  He is now a member
of the Para State Committee of the MST. He was born in the state of Para to
peasant parents. He has completed the elementary school, and is married
with
6 children.

Mr Neri is also visiting nine other countries in Europe, making contact
with
government authorities, unions, political parties and the media, and
seeking
to highlight the risk of bias at the impending trial.  Over the last 12
years in Brazil at least 1,167 rural workers have been murdered, but only
86
suspects have come to trial and just seven have been convicted.

Please for more information contact:

Name- Nadia Goodman

Email-  goodman at pobox.com

Tel 01865 773411