Brasilia, May 25th, 1993
Dear Friends,
As you know, the Nucleus for Indigenous Rights (NDI) filed, in
January '93, a judicial lawsuit against logging companies who
operate illegally in Indigenous reserves of south Para, in the
Brazilian Amazon. On January 15th, '93, the 4th Federal Court of
Brasilia granted the injunction requested by NDI, and determined
the interdiction of access to the illegal roads opened by logging
companies in the Indigenous reserves and that PERACHI, MAGINCO and
IMPAR (the logging companies) leave the Indigenous territories and
suspend illegal activities.
However, the logging company Perachi and the goldminers
("garimpeiros") who are illegally destroying the Indigenous
reserves, appealed to a higher court against the injunction, and
obtained a judicial order determining the suspension of the
injunction granted by the 4th Federal Court until there is a final
judgement on Perachi's appeal. The judge who was responsible for
this absurd decision, Eustaquio Silveira, is known for his pro-
business and conservative views on environmental and indian issues,
but he is very vulnerable to pressure.
Therefore, we would like to ask you to participate of a
campaign of letters addressed to judge Eustaquio Silveira, asking
him to review his decision (that suspended the injunction granted
against logging companies) and asking him not to allow the
destruction of the Amazon rainforest by loggers and gold-miners and
the genocide of indigenous people. We are sure that these letters
will be very effective. They should be sent to:
Exmo. Sr. Eustaquio Silveira
Tribunal Regional Federal da 1a. Regiao
SBS, Q.2, Ed. Aurea, 4o. andar
Brasilia, DF, cep 70070-100 - Brazil
or fax: (061) 322-1022, Telephone (061) 314-5445
Please send copies of all letters sent to judge Eustaquio
Silveira to NDI's new office address: Nucleo de Direitos Indigenas,
SHIS QI 11, Bloco K, s/loja 65, Brasilia, DF 71625-500, Brazil -
Fone (061) 248-2439, Fax (061) 248-6420). This campaign of letters
is extremely important, because this will be the first judicial
case involving illegal logging in Indigenous reserves to be judged
by a Superior Court. Please send lots of letters!!!!
Thank you very much,
Juliana Santilli
SAMPLE LETTER TO JUDGE EUSTAQUIO SILVEIRA - (This is just a sample
letter, please rewrite it with your own words, so that letters will
not be all the same).
Exmo. Sr. Juiz
Eustaquio Silveira
Tribunal Regional Federal da 1a. Regiao
SBS, Q.2, Ed. Aurea, 4o Andar
Brasilia, DF, 70070-100, BRAZIL
or fax (55 61) 322 1022
Dear Mr. Eustaquio Silveira
We were informed about your decision suspending 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 the Apyterewa reserve, has also appealed from the injunction,
and that you have issued a preliminary order favorable to the
invaders of indigenous territories.
We are writing to ask you to review such decisions, because
they represent a serious threat to the survival of Indigenous
people and to the Amazon rainforest, a unique ecosystem. Illegal
logging of mahogany in the Amazon is devastating the rainforest and
the 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,