MST Informe
May 2, 2003
MST

Brazil, March 2003 Dear Mr. President,

This letter is addressed to you by persons who hold you in esteem, admire your political trajectory and wish to give you total support so that you can live up to the enormous hopes that your victory has awakened in the Brazilian people,

Aware of the economic-financial situation of the country, we have a clear perception of the internal and external difficulties that have led the government to take measures restricting spending and raising taxes. We know also that globalization has provoked substantial changes in the world economy and that it will be very difficult to develop the country without participating in some way in the international financial community.

Nevertheless, these constraints cannot mean the renunciation of our sovereignty.

Two measures are particularly worrisome in relationship to this matter: the negotiations on the FTAA and the intended autonomy of the Central Bank.

The first, as some of us have already argued in extensive and repeated pleadings, will expose our industrial, agricultural, and service producers to absolutely unequal competition, whose primary consequence will be an even greater de-nationalizing of our productive space. And by its reach that surpasses commercial agreements, but involves agriculture, investments, state purchases, currency, and services, leaves clear the intention of the U.S. Government to re-colonize the continent in accord with its interests.

The second involves handing over control of our currency to external capital and therefore the renunciation of the national project. It cannot be hidden that with the most dynamic sectors of our economy in the hands of foreign corporations, the autonomy of the Central Bank means transferring to them the power to set the value of our currency.

For these reasons, we made the decision to send you this letter. In our understanding, the FTAA as well as the autonomy of the Central Bank are non-negotiable matters, given that they involve the untouchability of the nation's sovereignty. A decision of such magnitude must made by the owner of this sovereignty--the Brazilian people. Thus, each Brazilian man and woman must be called on to have their say about both questions in a plebiscite convoked for this express goal.

The plebiscite would be the occasion for a great national debate about the two topics, thus laying the groundwork for a truly democratic decision.

We are convinced that a firm attitude of Brazil will change the posture of the forces that are pressuring us and will open up a path so that we can build, in an autonomous way, the paths that are most appropriate for our development.

However, if this does not happen, and the government finds itself placed in the situation of breaking with the forces that are pressuring it, please believe, Mr. President, that the retaliation will not be insupportable. Our economy is already sufficiently strong to resist them and our people sufficiently politicized to give you the necessary support for this confrontation. Alfredo Bosi. Literary critic and member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters; Ana Maria Freire, educator, widow of Paulo Freire; Ana Maria Castro, educator, daughter of Josue de Castro; Ariovaldo Umbelino de Oliveira, geographer from University of São Paulo; Augusto Boal, theater director; Benedito Mariano, researcher; Bernardete de Oliveira, anthropologist from State University of São Paulo; Carlos Nelson Coutinho, political scientist and philosopher; Chico Buarque, composer and writer; Dom Demetrio Valentini, bishop; Dom Paulo Arns, cardinal; Dom Pedro Casaldaliga, bishop; Dom Tomas Balduino, bishop; Emir Sader, political scientist; Fabio Konder Comparato, jurist; Fernando Morais, writer; Francisco de Oliveira, social scientist; Haroldo Campos, poet and translator; Joanna Fomm, actress; Leonardo Boff, theologian, philosopher, and writer; Luis Fernando Verissimo, writer; Margarida Genovois, human rights activist; Maria Adelia de Souza, geographer, researcher with Miltom Santos; Manuel Correia de Andrade, geographer, specialist in Northeast Brazil; Marilena Chauí, philosopher; Nilo Batista, jurist; Pastor Ervino Schmidt, pastor of the Lutheran Church and director of National Council of Christian Churches; Plínio Arruda Sampaio, consultant to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on agrarian questions, periodical director; Oscar Niemeyer, architect; Ricardo Antunes, political scientist; Sergio Haddad, educator and president of the Brazilian Association of NGOs; Sergio Ferolla, brigadier-general; Tatau Godinho, feminist; Valton Miranda, psychiatrist;

NEWS BRIEFS

MST Agrarian Reform Store Opens in Maranhao

On April 28th, a new MST Agrarian Reform store opened in Sao Luis, Maranhao. Musicians participated in its inauguration and animated the evening, while other participants tasted the products of agrarian reform (food and drinks free of genetic modification and agrotoxins, as well as cultural items such as books and CDs). The store is located on at rua do Sol, 615 A. Please email the following for more information: mstma@elo.com.br

March Liberates Rural Workers who were imprisoned in Goias

Agricultural workers Claudinei and Odelio, imprisoned on March 10, were freed when the "MArch for Peace AgrarianReform and Social Justice" arrived in the capital on April 15. The lawyers have already expended various judicial avenues, but their release was only possible thanks to the pressure exercised by the landless workers who were willing to stay in the capital until the court freed the workers.