The Union of Rural Workers tells RAN that Edson Silva was arrested in the nearby town of Xapuri June 9 and transferred to the state capital. Doctors there attested that he had been severely beaten and tortured. Rubber-tapper activists say the arrest order that resulted in Silva's imprisonment and torture was issued illegally by Judge Maria Tapajos Santana. Silva is charged with providing weapons to a para-military group allegedly plotting to isolate Xapuri and another town.
Leaders call the charge a fabrication.
Xapuri is the birthplace of the rubber-tappers movement, once headed by Chico Mendes. Mendes was assassinated in 1988 by two ranchers. Rubber-tappers fear a new, virulent campaign of violence and disinformation threatens the victories won at the cost of Chico Mendes' life. In fact, Mendes' cousin Raimundo de Barros is a target of the anti-tapper campaign. The rubber-tappers say state prosecutor Dr. Erick Cavalcante has accused Xapuri city council member Barros and three other leaders with inciting violence and targeted them for arrest or harassment.