ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, 10th Fl.
Washington, D.C. 20009
Telephone: (202) 387-3500
Facsimile: (202) 234-6049
EcoNet edf
Internet steves@edf.org
Date: May 27, 1993
From: NativeNet@gnosys.svle.ma.us
URGENT ACTION
Dear Colleagues -
We have received an urgent request for letters along the lines of the
attached from the Nucleus for Indigenous Rights (NDI) in Brasilia. NDI,
in January obtained an historic federal court injunction against illegal
loggers in Indian areas in the south of Para, shutting down three
predatory and illegal mahogany extraction operations in the Arawete,
Parakana and Xicrin indigenous areas. The loggers have appealed, and
judge Eustaquio Silveira temporarily suspended the injunction. He is
chairing the appeals court panel now about to take a final decision on the
loggers' appeal. NDI has good reason to think that he is susceptible to
pressure, and has suggested a sample letter. Our letter, and the NDI
sample follow. The decision is upcoming in the next two weeks. Please
send or fax a letter, in your own words, as soon as possible, and send a
copy to NDI. NDI's address is:
Nucleo de Direitos Indigenas (NDI)
SHIS QI 11, S/LOJA 65
BRASILIA DF 71625-500
BRAZIL
Tel 011 55 61 248 2439
Fax 011 55 61 248 6420
________________________________________________________________________
May 26, 1993
Exmo. Sr. Juiz
Eustaquio Silveira
Tribunal Regional Federal da 1a. Regiao
SBS Q.2, Ed. Aurea, 4o andar
Brasilia, DF, 70070-100
Brazil
Fax - 55-61-322-1022
Dear Mr. Eustaquio Silveira;
We understand that you have suspended the injunction issued by the
Fourth Federal Court against the Perachi, Maginco and Impar firms'
logging operations in Indian areas in Para state. The injunction was issued
in response to a suit filed by the Nucleus of Indigenous Rights. We further
understand you have issued a preliminary decision in favor of gold miners
operating in the Apyterewa reserve.
We respectfully but urgently request that you review these decisions.
Our organizations, with more than 6 million members, as well as many
other concerned citizens internationally, welcomed the Fourth Federal
Court decision against the loggers as an historic advance for the protection
of environment and human rights in the Western Hemisphere. The
predatory extraction of mahogany, as well as uncontrolled mining,
represent direct threats to the survival of such indigenous groups as the
Arawete and the Parakana and to the integrity of the Amazon forest.
Please take this important opportunity to prevent the genocide of the
Arawete and Parakana and the devastation of their forest lands.
Sincerely,
Stephan Schwartzman Bruce Rich
Senior Scientist Director, International Program
Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund
Barbara Bramble
Director, International Program
National Wildlife Federation
______________________________________________________________________
OR here is NDI's sample letter:
Exmo. Sr. Juiz
Eustaquio Silveira
Tribunal Regional Federal da 1a. Regiao
SBS, Q.2, ED. Aurea, 4o andar
Brasilia DF 70070-100 - Brazil - Fax 55-61-322-1022
Dear Mr. Eustaquio Silveira,
We were informed about your decision supsending the Injunction
granted by the 4th Federal Court in a lawsuit filed by the Nucleus for
Indigenous Rights against Perachi, Maginco and Impar -- three logging
companies that operate illegally in Indigenous reserves in south Para.
We were also informed that Luiz Nogueira Araujo Costa, a leader of
the gold-miners ("garimpeiros") who are illegally based in Apyterewa
reserve, has also appealed from the injunction, and that you have issued
a preliminary order favorable to the invaders of Indigenous people who live
in it.
Please do not allow the genocide of the Arawete and Parakana
Indians, traditional inhabitants of these lands, and the destruction of
environmental resources of the amazon.
Yours Sincerely,