From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Date: 11 Nov 92 11:34 PST
Subject: Help Rio das Ra~s - BA
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700780:000:3879
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Nov 11 11:34:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: Help Rio das Ra~s - BA

/* Written  1:18 pm  Nov 11, 1992 by suporte2@ax.apc.org in igc:ax.brasil */

                 An Open Letter to Presbyterians

                                     October 21, 1992
                                     Caixa Postal 2356
                                     Ruy Barbosa, Bahia
                                     46800  Brazil

Dear friends,

We are writing to tell you about a simple, concrete action that
you can take that requires little time and money, but will
possibly do a great deal of good.  We ask that you write a
letter of protest to one of the Brazilian authorities listed at
the end of this letter.  

In the state of Bahia in Northeast Brazil, in a place called Rio
das Ra~s ("Frog River"), 300 Afro-American families have been
expelled from land they and their ancestors have lived on for
140 years.  The struggle began ten years ago when a wealthy
rancher, Carlos Bomfim by name, invaded the traditional lands of
the Afro-American community.  

The case was decided in court in nearby Bom Jesus da Lapa in
November of 1990.  In an unprecedented decision, a courageous
judge ruled against the wealthy invader and in favor of the
rights of the poor.  He granted the community full and legal
possession of their traditional lands.  In the two years since
that decision, however, Bomfim has prevented the people from
moving back to their lands.  Without police support the court
order is useless and the police are taking their orders from
Bomfim.

On October 10 of this year, the diocesan bishop and 300 faithful
attempted to celebrate a mass on land protected by the judge's
order.  They were prevented from doing so by the police, who were
acting without an order from a judge.  During the tense
confrontation on the morning of October 10, it was clear that the
police were consulting with Bomfim.  His orders were that "no
priests, no bishops, no religious, and no union organizers" were
permitted to enter the lands that Bomfim has illegally claimed
for himself.

The following morning, October 11, a pickup truck carrying
members of the community, their lawyer, a union organizer, and
several workers from the Catholic Church's Pastoral Land
Commission was stopped at gunpoint by thugs ("pistoleiros")
employed by Mr. Bomfim.  They were threatened and prevented from
reaching the community.

The people of Rio das Ras need our solidarity.  They are asking
that telegrams and letters be sent condemning the violence and
demanding immediate and effective justice.  The situation in Rio
das Ras is fast becoming an embarrassment to the Bahian and the
Brazilian governments.  With a little more pressure, a little
more international attention focused there, it is possible that
the people of Rio das Ra~s will be able to return to their
traditional lands.  

                                     Sincerely,



                                     Peter Kemmerle
                                     Maria Arroyo
                                     Mission Diaconate Workers
                                     Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)



Letters and telegrams of protest can be sent to:

Dr. Jurandir Oliveira
Presidente do INTERBA
Av. Antonio Carlos Magalha~es, 1116
Ed. Tropical Center - 2 andar
Pituba 
Salvador, BA  
41850-000  Brazil

Dr. Evilasio Rocha Souza
Procurador da Comissao de Reforma Agraria
Av. Antonio Carlos Magalha~es 3840
Ed. COPEME - 8 andar
Salvador, BA  
41820-000  Brazil

Procuradoria Geral Da Republica
Dr. Aristides Junqueira
SGAS - Ad. 604  lote 23
Brasilia, DF  
70200-901  Brazil

Procuradoria Estadual
Dr. Jose Augusto T. Dantas
Largo do Campo Grande 382
Campo Grande 
Salvador, BA 
40081-970  Brazil

We urge you to send copies of the correspondence to:

Comunidade do Rio das Ra~s
Caixa Postal 20
Bom Jesus da Lapa, BA
47600  Brazil