According to CIMI-MS, the Guarani-Kaiowa community of Jarara was given an
eviction notice by Theotonio Costa, Minister of the Regional Federal Court.
The new eviction notice states that the Guarani, a community of some 25O
people, will be evicted from their land in ten days (BY MAY 19TH, 1996,
according to our calculations).
In March, the community of Jarara returned to their lands from which they
had been evicted years before. At that time, Judge Jean Marcos Ferreira of
the Regional Federal Court, ruled that the community should stay on their
land, saying "cattle can be sold, indigenous peoples cannot be sold - this
phrase is not mine, but I agree entirely with it ". He argued that to rule
in favor of the Guarani-Kaiowa was just because it was a decision in favor
of their very survival
On May 9, however, Minister Theotonio Costa overruled Judge Ferreira's
decision and signed an eviction order in response to a suit filed by
rancher Miguel Subtil de Oliveira. The new eviction order could cause
serious violence, according to CIMI-MS, because the community of Jarara has
indicated that they will not leave their land. In a letter dated March 23,
1996, they write "if the court decides to evict us, we will commit
collective suicide" and again upon learning of minister Costa's ruling:
"because conflict or deadly fighting or the suicide of some Indians who do
not want to leave our land could happen. Because on our land where we are
the rancher only grazes cattle and our people are forced to the outskirts
of the city of Juti, hungry, without a house to live in or place to work."
International pressure could play a pivotal role in preventing the eviction
and possible suicide of the community of Jarara. Please write to Minister
Costa, urging him to reconsider his ruling, and to Minister of Justice
Nelson Jobim, expressing your concern.
Minister Theotonio Costa
Ministro do Tribunal Regional Federal
Fax: 011-55-11-605-0496
Minister Nelson Jobim
Ministro da Justica
Fax: 011-55-61-224-2448
This Urgent Action was put together by Amanaka'a with information from
CIMI-MS and Imagens da Terra. For further information, and to Forward
copies of your letters, please contact:
CIMI-MS
Fax: 011-55-67-384-5551
Imagens da Terra
Fax: 011-55-21-571-9309
Amanaka'a Amazon Network
Fax: (212) 925-5299