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WRM Bulletin
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(versão em português) This special issue of the WRM Bulletin is devoted entirely to supporting the struggle of the indigenous Pataxó people of Brazil. We have taken this decision because of the dramatic and historic situation which this people is experiencing since they re-took, last August, the territory which had been usurped from them by the government to be turned into the Monte Pascoal National Park. Apart from the reaction which can be expected from a government such as the Brazilian when faced by this kind of action, one must add the fact that this April is the 500th Anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese on the coast of Brazil -precisely in this very same region in the State of Bahia– where Monte Pascoal constitutes a symbol of this historic event. This is why we believe that the Pataxó need –and certainly deserve– everybody’s support and we felt that our Bulletin might be able to contribute to the further dissemination of news of their struggle. The monthly WRM bulletin will come out in its usual format at the end of this month.
BACKGROUND The old and the new fifth centenary of the Pataxó Five hundred years ago, when the Portuguese reached the coasts which would eventually become Brazil, the Pataxó indigenous people already inhabited the area which the conquistadores christened Monte Pascoal, situated in the south of what is today’s State of Bahia. They lived in this region until 1951, year in which they were the victims of a terrible massacre. The survivors were expelled from their lands and confined to areas where they lived for years in utter misery and humiliation. The traditional ancestral lands of the Pataxó were then transformed in the Monte Pascoal National Park, supposedly to protect the Atlantic Forest. Despite this, the remains of the formerly huge area of Atlantic Forest continued to be systematically destroyed by a number of non-indigenous forces, while the Pataxó were denied access to their own traditional lands which had been forcibly taken for "conservation". This unjust situation could not last forever. And indeed, on 19th August 1999, the Pataxó re-took their territory and declared that "Monte Pascoal belongs to the Pataxó". Since then, and with the support of some press media, the authorities have attempted to publicly discredit the Pataxó, accusing them of destroying the forest. The US magazine Newsweek recently joined this campaign (see critical article, below). However, the mass media in Brazil have employed the strategy of ignoring the conflict. As a further means of exerting pressure, the Government stopped funding the Working Group of the official government agency which had been assigned the task of demarcating the Pataxó's land. At the same time, it assigned parts of the Pataxó territory to landless peasants, with the aim of creating conflicts between the two groups. On the other hand, it did nothing to evict the cattle-ranchers who occupy lands around the National Park and who are responsible for the annual fires which are affecting the Park and which the Pataxó are accused of starting. On 17th November 1999, a local judge ordered that the National Park should be returned to the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA). As yet, no date has been fixed for their expulsion, but the Pataxó have sworn to resist and have issued a declaration directed to the Brazilian people and to the authorities, in which they state that Monte Pascoal is their sacred territory and that they will accept no decision, negotiation or proposal which implies that they must leave the area. They are also demanding the re-start of work by the Working Group which was carrying out studies to enable the demarcation of the Pataxó territory. They also express their concern over the possibility of expulsion of their people by violent means and have called on the Government to "guarantee the personal safety of our families." The situation has become more and more dramatic as the Pataxó suffer constant harassment. On March 21st of this year, the authorities began to erect a gigantic cross in the locality known as Coroa Vermelha, in Pataxó territory, where a Mass is to be celebrated to commemorate the Fifth Centenary of the arrival of the Portuguese. This act merely demonstrates the degree of arrogance and racism which still survives in Brazil today. On the 5th April, a force over 200 military police, armed with rifles and machine guns, invaded Coroa Vermelha and destroyed the "resistance monument" which the Pataxó had built in response to the official celebrations for the so-called "500 years of Brazil". The monument, which symbolized the territories in Brazil occupied by indigenous peoples before the arrival of the European conquistadores, was to have been inaugurated during the indigenous conference which is planned to be held in this locality from the 18th to 22nd April. This police abuse, which had been preceded by several acts of provocation by members of the Santa Cruz de Cabrália Police Prefecture and by the Centre for Environmental Resources, generated immediate accusations in Parliament and from human rights organisations. A few days later, a force of 1.700 heavily-armed police gathered in Eunápolis, in southern Bahia State –just 63 kms. from Porto Seguro, the historic site of the landing by the conquistadores and the site where the main government celebrations of 26th April are to take place. The aim is to forcefully prevent a counter celebration which is to be held on that same date by indigenous peoples arriving from all over Brazil, together with an important contingent of members of the Landless Peasant Movement (the "Sem Terra"). Meanwhile, the Pataxó are receiving increasing demonstrations of solidarity. Over the 15, 16 and 17th of April, they will be receiving visits by more than 1500 indigenous people from other regions of Brazil who wish to offer their solidarity and who, moreover, believe that the re-taking of Monte Pascoal constitutes an important step in the struggle by indigenous peoples to obtain the return and demarcation of their traditional lands. After their visit to Monte Pascoal, the delegations of over 1500 from all over the country will make their way to Coroa Vermelha, where, from the 18,19, 20 and 21st of April, the Indigenous Peoples’ Conference will be held in Pataxó territory. This is the context of the current situation in which two antagonistic world visions are in conflict. On the one side, those who seem to still be living in a colonial Brazil, in which the "Portuguese" impose their will on the "Indians". On the other, a new and vibrant Brazil, in which the indigenous peoples, the Landless Peasants Movement, the oppressed and their allies, are actively reclaiming their rights in their search for an equitable and environmentally responsible Brazil. It’s a conflict which does not begin or end on this 22nd April, but from now on, this date will undoubtedly acquire a new meaning. And much of such change will be owed to the Pataxó's struggle. Other articles about the Pataxó struggle can be found in earlier editions of the WRM Bulletin in the following sites: http://www.wrm.org.uy/english/bulletin/bull26.htm#brasil http://www.wrm.org.uy/english/bulletin/bull28.htm#Brazil http://www.wrm.org.uy/english/bulletin/bull29.htm#pascoal
OUR VIEWPOINT The Brazilian government is preparing to celebrate the fifth centenary of the "discovery" of Brazil by the Portuguese, yet nothing seems to have changed in the way they see the world. Their Portuguese ancestors, were they still alive, would no doubt be proud of their descendants. To commemorate this great event, a giant cross has been erected where a huge mass is being prepared and the Indians are supposed to take joyful part in the festivities or, at the very least, to avoid making problems and to keep out of the way. The government seems, however, to be unaware that something really has changed in Brazil, and in particular, that there is a revival of the struggle by the indigenous peoples for the recognition of their rights. The Pataxó are by no means the only example of this revival –which extends from one end of the country to the other– but at this particular moment in time, their struggle has acquired a particular resonance because they happen to live where the first conquistadores landed, which is to be the centre of the official festivities. For the Pataxó and other indigenous peoples who live in what is today known as Brazil, there is nothing to celebrate. On the contrary, the Pataxó were the first to suffer the consequences of the arrival of the Europeans, who slowly but inexorably stripped them of all their lands and territories. And now this people, decimated by repression, hunger and the sicknesses brought by the conquerors and who, for years, have suffered the humiliation of having their lands expropriated, have become central figures during the festivities after they successfully re-took Mount Pascoal last year –a potent symbol and part of their territory. The official viewpoint is that the Pataxó cannot be permitted to spoil the jollifications and every means must be used –whether fair or foul– to prevent them from doing so. The profound racism which still exists in Brazil –particularly in the "highest places"– has once more come to the surface and in these circles an Indian is just an Indian and the exercise of his rights depends on whatever the Europeans’ descendants decide. Fortunately, the Pataxó are not alone and there are many people who are joining the counter celebrations. But many more are needed to join them –both inside and outside of Brazil– to make sure that the Pataxó and their allies will not suffer actual physical abuse in an atmosphere of increasing repression. The Government has to realise that the Pataxó are not alone and that "solutions" involving repression will only make matters worse. In the final analysis, Brazilian society as a whole has to recognize its debt towards the original inhabitants of their territory –as must the inhabitants of many other countries throughout the world. Fair and just agreements must be reached to finally resolve the problem of land rights. There can be no peace without justice and equity. When this is achieved, then there really will be something which all will want to celebrate. At that moment, we hope to see the Pataxó celebrating –together with the rest of Brazilian society- from the summit of their Monte Pascoal.
THE SAME OLD ENEMIES Newsweek sides against the Pataxó In its advertisements, Newsweek claims to be "all you need to know". If this is the case, God help the Pataxó! In its March 27th issue, Newsweek gives a totally tendentious view of their struggle and that of other indigenous peoples, while attempting to give the impression of a false "objectivity". The article begins by describing the situation of a person who is thrilled when she is appointed Director of the Monte Pascoal National Park –which still contains splendid remaining areas of the once extensive Atlantic Rainforest– only to find her dreams turned into ashes when "a band of 300 angry Pataxó" seize the Park, "wielding machetes and cudgels". Not content with this, the crowd dares to scrawl a "defiant message" on a banner at the park gate: "Monte Pascoal belongs to the Pataxó!" The "objective" journalist, rather than investigating whether the Park really belongs to the Pataxó or not, goes on to make a series of jibes in which his targets are, on the one hand, indigenous peoples and, on the other, environmentalists. Naturally, he makes no mention of the government's (either national or regional) responsability, nor about the logging companies, the transnationals, the World Bank and other agents of similar calibre in the destruction of the Atlantic Rainforest. Nor does it occur to him that it might have something to do with the Pataxó if the Monte Pascoal forest is still there at all to be declared a national park! Instead of this, the poor afflicted Park Director is quoted as saying: "Today the Indians are our biggest problem". Although the journalist does point out that "Of course, compared with what followed after Europeans first 'discovered' Brazil, the Indians' impact on the Brazilian wilderness has been child's play" he still continues to aim his guns against them and concludes that "Indians are now part of Brazil's environmental problem". The journalist then goes on to explain why the indigenous peoples are increasing the struggle to gain their rights and presents this as mere opportunism. "The Constitution of 1988 assured indigenous peoples’ claims to their ancestral lands. Suddenly there was a reason to be Indian again, and with the aid of smart lawyers and militant advocates, Indians and 'neo-Indians' began to petition for redress". He goes on to say "But that's not necessarily the best thing for the environment" and ends up by describing the Pataxó as responsible for the destruction of the National Park. In conclusion: the article, as usual, accuses the victims –the Pataxó– while cleverly hiding a series of facts which are plain to see for anyone remotely interested in looking. Such as: that the indigenous peoples were stripped of their rights and in many cases exterminated during the past 500 years. That they have a right to reclaim their lands. That the indigenous peoples always have been –and still are– totally marginal agents in the destruction of the forests. That in the majority of cases they have been guardians of the forests, not the opposite. That the destruction of the Atlantic Rainforest has been caused by government policy, generally associated with the illicit enrichment of persons close to the power structure. That the policies of the World bank –and, in particular, the opening up of roads and the encouragement of exports- have had infinitely more impact on the Atlantic Rainforest than whatever minor impacts the indigenous peoples may have had. That the giant paper, logging and mining conglomerates, together with large landowners, cattle-ranchers and other powerful agents have become rich while destroying the rainforests. That, finally, it would be quite simple to resolve this conflict peacefully if the Government were to recognize the Pataxó peoples’ rights, if they would finally demarcate their lands and if they would give them they all the help they need to ensure the conservation of the National Park. It's a pity that the journalist showed no interest in this.
CALL FOR ACTION We request all who wish to support the
Pataxó's struggle to send emails and faxes containing the attached letter to the
following addresses, with copy to CIMI President of the Federal Republic of Brazil Ministry of Justice President of FUNAI Your Excellency, We are supporting the struggle of the Pataxó people in the southern region of the State of Bahia. We wish to express our concern over the situation in which this people are, particularly regarding the lack of regulation of the territories which traditionally belong to them and which are essential for their physical and cultural survival. During the past weeks, the Pataxó have carried out a total of five land occupations in the region, in order to demand the presence of FUNAI's technical teams with the aim of initiating and completing the task of identifying their lands, an essential issue to proceed to their demarcation. A very tense situation has resulted from such occupations, which took place as a consequence of the lack of solutions on the part of the government. We therefore request the implementation of the regulation and total demarcation of the ancestral territories of the Pataxó in the extreme south of Bahia, including the area of Monte Pascoal, which the Pataxó re-took last year. As an immediate measure, we request the return of FUNAI's technical teams, so that they proceed to finish the task of land identification in the region, in line with the Pataxó's request. Finally, we wish to state that we shall continue supporting the struggle of the Pataxó. We also express our solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples' March and Conference, which is a symbol of their unity and struggle aimed at achieving that in Brazil's next 500 years their rights are fully guaranteed and respected. Yours faithfully, (signature and name of the organization)
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World Rainforest Movement
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tel: 598 2 413 2989 / fax: 598 2 410 0985
wrm@wrm.org.uy
