To: Organisations of Via Campesina, allies and friends
From: The International Coordinating Committee of Via Campesina (CCI)
In response to the events of the past 21st of
October, where armed guards contracted by
Syngenta, a Swiss transnational corporation which
produces genetically modified crops and seeds,
invaded the Tierra Libre campsite of the
Brazilian Landless Workers Movement (MST) which
is affiliated to the Via Campesina in Parana,
Brazil. The armed men entered and shot dead
Valmir Mota de Oliviera, also known as Keno, a
leader of the MST, injured several others, and
made death threats against the other land workers
present in the campsite.
We call:
On all organizations and movements to organize
protest actions at Syngenta offices in the
countries where they are based, and to hand
deliver letters to the Brazilian and Swiss
embassies, with the following demands:
1. The punishment of the material
perpetrators and intellectual authors of this
crime.
2. Expropriation of Syngenta lands, to be
used for the production of native seeds, and that
these lands be administered by rural peasants and
farm workers.
3. The expulsion of Syngenta from Brazil.
4. That the Brazilian government headed by
President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva adopt
measures to ensure the physical integrity of the
rural farm workers who are threatened by the
armed men contracted by Syngenta.
5. That all organisations back up the
initiatives of Amnesty International in their
call to repudiate and condemn the actions of
Syngenta.
6. That all organisations of Via Campesina
in all countries organize days of action and
protest in the Swiss and Brazilian Embassies, as
well as at the offices of Syngenta this Thursday
8th November and on the 10th of December
condemning this criminal act.
7. To send letters of protest to the following addresses:
Governador do Estado do Paraná
Exmo Governador do Estado do Paraná
Sr. Roberto Requião de Mello e Silva
Palácio Iguaçu
Praça Nossa Senhora de Salete, s/nº, 3º andar
Centro Cívico 80.530-909
Curitiba/PR - Brasil
Fax: + 55 41 3350 2935
Saudação: Vossa Excelência/ Your Excellency
Ministro da Justiça
Exmo Ministro da Justiça
Sr. Tarso Genro
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco “T”
70712-902 - Brasília/DF - Brasil
Fax: + 55 61 3322-6817
Saudação: Vossa Excelência/ Your Excellency
Cópias para:
Secretaria Especial de Direitos Humanos
Exmo. Secretário Especial
Sr. Paulo de Tarso Vannuchi
Esplanada dos Ministérios - Bloco “T” - 4º andar
70.064-900 - Brasília/DF - Brasil
Fax: + 55 61 3226 7980
Saudação: Vossa Excelência/ Your Excellency
Copy to MST Brasil and Via Campesina :
http://premium.ireland.com/scripts/mail/compose.mail?compose=1&.ob=344db9d3090c8a519725af2272f55b35cb0496f3&composeto=mstpr@mst.org.br&composecc=&subject=&body=>mstpr mst.org.br
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http://premium.ireland.com/scripts/mail/compose.mail?compose=1&.ob=344db9d3090c8a519725af2272f55b35cb0496f3&composeto=viacampesina@viacampesina.org&composecc=&subject=&body=>viacampesina viacampesina.org
Send us a short report and photos of the actions organized to:
http://premium.ireland.com/scripts/mail/compose.mail?compose=1&.ob=344db9d3090c8a519725af2272f55b35cb0496f3&composeto=viacampesina@viacampesina.org&composecc=&subject=&body=>viacampesina viacampesina.org
More information:
http://www.viacampesina.org/main_en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=451&Itemid=1>http://www.viacampesina.org/main_en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=451&Itemid=1