Date: 12/08 10:05 AM
From: Maria Luisa Mendona, marialuisa1@uol.com.br
Dear Friends,
Please distribute this information ASAP.
Thanks,
Maisa Mendona
We ask all individuals and organizations concerned about human rights and social justice to write to the Brazilian authorities listed bellow, asking them to guarantee a fair trial for Jos Rainha Jr., a member of the Landless Workers Movement (MST).
Rainha is accused of killing a landowner in 1989, in the Pedro Canrio region,
Esprito
Santo state. In fact, Jos Rainha was in the state of Cear when the killing happened. He was in a meeting with local Congress members who have testiÞed to this effect. Another important evidence is a video tape of Rainha participating in this meeting.
In spite of this, in his first trial, in 1997, Rainha was convicted and received a sentence of 26 years in jail.
We believe his case has been used to criminalize the entire Landless Workers Movement. Please send letters of support as soon as possible to:
- Judge Ronaldo Gonalves de Souza:
fax 00 55 27 222 38 52
- Presidente do Tribunal de Justia do estado do Esprito Santo, judge Wellington da Costa Citi:
presidente@tj.es.gov.br
- Governador do estado do Esprito Santo (State Governor), Jos Igncio Ferreira:
governador@es.gov.br
- Ministro da Justia (Minister of Justice) Jos carlos Dias:
acs@mj.gov.br
fax 00 55 61 321 15 65
- Presidente da Republica
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
pr@planalto.gov.br
fax 00 55 61 322 23 14
On behalf of all Brazilian Landless Workers, we thank you for your solidarity.
Human Rights Department
Landless Workers Movement
Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST)