Following the decree, miners and loggers increased their encroachments on Indian land. In another development, a radicalized movement representing landless peasants continued to occupy mostly fallow land in rural areas in order to pressure the government to settle rural families. The activism contributed to scores of violent conflicts between peasants and the military, police, and private security forces, which act with virtual impunity. His win was also overshadowed when published accounts of secretly recorded conversations seemed to indicate that two top officials appeared to be steering a bid to privatize part of the state-run telephone holding company to a consortium of personal friends, who ended up losing the auction. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Citizens can change governments through elections.
Parliament remains dominated by the executive branch.
Professional staff capabilities are not used by members of Congress. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion and expression as well as the right to organize political and civic organizations. Cardoso is credited with initiating a sea-change in attitudes concerning international criticism on rights issues, from aggressive nationalistic rejection to dialogue and openness. He created a ministerial rank secretariat charged with defending human rights. The crime of torture was upgraded from a misdemeanor to a serious crime punishable by up to 16 years in prison.