REQUEST FOR URGENT LETTER WRITING!!!
TRADITIONAL BLACK AMAZON COMMUNITY FIGHTS
FOR RECOGNITION OF LAND RIGHTS
The community of Boa Vista, Para, is a "quilombo,"
comprised of descendants of escaped slaves who live along
the Trombetas River in the northern Amazon region
of Brazil. They now are close to achieving legalization
of their traditional land rights. If successful, Boa Vista
would be the first community achieving such recognition
since the legal opportunity was presented in the
new Brazilian constitution.
This request is being made on behalf of ARQMO,
the Association of Communities Descended from Quilombos
in Oriximina Municipality, which represents 21 quilombo
communities, with a total population of 6,500 people along
the Trombetas, Cumina, Erepecuru and Acapu rivers.
Nearly 200 years ago, their ancestors fled
from cattle ranches and cacao plantations in
the Amazon and climbed the Trombetas River.
They went further and further into the Amazon,
until they settled in areas which, at that time,
were 45 days by boat from the nearest settlements.
The legal demarcation of the area is considered
urgent, given pressures on the community from
a multinational mining operation, Mineracao
Rio do Norte (Alcoa, Reynolds, Norsk Hydro), nearby.
Despite the presence of aluminum processing facilities
in Porto Trombetas, Boa Vista has no electricity.
Now, plans are being carried out for construction of
a hydroelectric dam on the Trombetas River. Boa Vista has
already lost many of its Afro-Amazonian cultural traditions,
but the demarcation would be an important precedent for
dozens of other quilombos throughout Brazil. A campaign is now
underway to achieve these demarcations in observation of
the three hundredth anniversary of Zumbi de Palmares,
who led slave uprisings in colonial Brazil.
The legal process is now before the Institute
for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA),
which is considering Boa Vista's petition for
demarcation of a 798 hectare area for 100 families.
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Please write:
Presidente Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Palacio do Planalto
70.159-970 Brasilia DF, Brazil
fax: +55-61-226-7566
and
Brazilio de Araujo Neto
Presidente do INCRA
SBN-Palacio do Desenvolvimento
70.057 Brasilia DF, Brazil
fax: +55-61-226-3855
Please send a copy to:
ARQMO
Caixa Postal 52
68.270 Oriximina, PA, Brazil
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SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Sir:
We are writing in support of the petition of
the quilombo community of Boa Vista, Para
for title to their traditional lands on the
Trombetas River.
We understand that such titling would be in
agreement with Article 68 of the Brazilian
Constitution, and could guarantee the
survival of this community and dozens of
other quilombos throughout Brazil.
These communities serve as models for
sustainable use of natural resources.
The demarcation of their lands would help demonstrate
the Brazilian government's commitment to
equal rights for minorities and to sustainable
development in the Amazon region.
Respectfully yours,
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For more information:
Please contact:
Lucia Andrade, Comissao Pro-Indio de Sao Paulo
tel/fax: +55-11-864-1180
or Glenn Switkes, International Rivers Network, San Francisco
tel: 415-243-4146
fax: 415-243-0661
email: glenirn@igc.apc.org