Rio Maria Committee
July 10, 2002

Volume XII, Number 2 July, 2002

EL DORADO TRIAL -- TWO TOKEN CONVICTIONS

In April 1996, the Military Police of the State of Pará opened fire on a group of landless demonstrators, killing 19 and wounding many others. Recently the State Court of Justice convicted two of the officers responsible for the crime, perpetrated by 142 soldiers. Amnesty International went on record as stating, "The longest trial in the history of Brazil, totaling 120 hours in five separate sections, once more exposes the deep faults in the system of justice of the State of Pará." Amnesty went on to state that these convictions were little more than symbolic gestures.

It is important to continue supporting the struggle for justice in the countryside, against the impunity still present in the State of Pará and in Brazil, and in favor of the federalization of crimes against human rights. We are asking for letters of protest to the Minister of Justiça and to the President of the Court of Justice of Pará, requesting the annulment of the trial and the immediate transfer of human rightrs crimes to the federal government. This trial definitively exposed the necessity and the urgence of the law that will try human rights cases.

Following is a sample letter, along with the names and addresses of the President of the Court and of the Minister of Justice:

1. Exma.Sra.

Dra. Climenié Bernadette de Araújo Pontes

Presidente do Tribunaal de Justiças do Estado

Lago de São João S/N

Cidade Velha

66.015-260 -- Belém -- PA

Fax: (011 55) 91 212 29 22 from the US

E-mail: cpontes@tje.pa.gov.br

2. Exmo. Sr

Paulo de Tarso Ribeiro

Ministro da Justiça

Esplanada dos Ministérios, T, 4. Andar

70.064-900 Brasília DF

Fax (011 55) 61 322 6817

E-mail : gabinetemj@mj.gov.br

Dear Minister:

In the recent trial for the massacre of 19 people at El Dorado do Carajás, there were a colonel, 2 majors, a captain, 4 lieutenants, 11 sargeants, and 128 military policer officers who were charged. However, only one colonel and one major were convicted, and they are still free. All of the others were acquitted. The two convictions appear to have been only a symbolic gesture.

In the fact of this scandal, I hope that you will take all necessary measures to have this trial annuled and for all crimes against Human Rights to be transferred immediately to the Federal Court..

Atenciosamente,

(signed)