Brazil: Violent Death of Indigenous Person

Case BRA020597

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Brazil.

Brief description of the situation :
The organisation "Tortura Nunca Mais" of Sao Paulo, a member of the
network, has expressed its grave concern over the violent death of Mr
Galdino Jesus DOS SANTOS on the 20th of April 1997 in Brasilia.

Mr GALDINO JESUS DOS SANTOS, a member of the indigenous tribe of
Pataxó Ha Ha Hae, was asleep in a public place on the 20th of April
(commemoration day of the indigenous population). Four young men
decided to pour petrol on him just for fun and set him alight. He
sustained burns over 90% of his body and died in spite of receiving
medical attention.

This occurred when his indigenous community was in Brasilia for a
demonstration calling for the delimitation of its lands which had not
been respected by the authorities in spite of the favourable decision
of the Judicial authority. Tortura Nunca Mais stresses its concern in
view of the fear of impunity and privileges enjoyed by those suspected
of this brutal murder who happen to be the sons of persons with
influence in the Federal Capital.

Action requested :
Please write to the Brazilian authorities urging them to :

i.      carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of
Mr Galdino Jesus DOS SANTOS in order to identify those responsible and
impose upon them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions
provided by law;

ii.     ensure the right of the victim's family to an adequate redress;

iii.    put an end to violence and other grave violations committed
against the indigenous people;

iv.     guarantee the full respect of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the country in accordance with national laws and
international standards.

Addresses:
Exmo Sr Dr Fernando Henrique Cardoso M.D. Presidente da República
Palacio de Planalto CEP: 70150-900 Brasilia, DF, Brasil Fax 0055-61
226-75-66 / 226-60-37. Sr. Nelson Azevedo Jobim, Ministro da Justica,
Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco 23, 70.064 Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Fax
: + 55 61 321 5172 E-mail:  njobim@ax.apc.org Exmo. Sr. Sepulveda
Pertence, Presidente do Supremo Tribunal Federal, Praça dos Tres
Poderes, Ed. Anexo 3 andar, Gabinete da Presidencia, Brasilia -
DF-70175-900, Brasil.  Fax : (+ 55 61) 316 55 08 Exmo. Sr. Geraldo
Brindeiro, Procurador Geral da República, Sgas L2 Sul. Q.603 Lote 23,
3 andar, Brasilia - DF - 70200-901, Brasil Fax : (+ 55 61) 223 61 19
Exmo. Sr. Luis Eduardo Magalhaes, Presidente da Cameora dos Deputados,
Cameora dos Deputados, Palaeio do Congresso Nacional, CEP 000 Brasilia
- D.F.- Brasil Fax : (+5561) 318 2117 Exmo. Sr. Dr. Julio Gaiger D.D.
Presidente da Fundacao Nacional do Indio-FUNAI Brasilia  Fax 0055-61
226-87-82

Geneva, May 2nd 1997

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of
this appeal in your reply.
Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager
OMCT-SOS-Torture
Fax 4122 733 1051
Ph  4122 733 3140
OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture
         The World Organisation Against Torture

OMCT@IPROLINK.CH
http://www.omct.org/

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.