Sr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Presidente
República Federativa do Brasil
Palácio Alvorada
Brasília, DF
BRASIL
pr@planalto.gov.br

Dear Mr. President / Dear Minister Bastos

As President of the Association of American Anthropologists (AAA), I write on behalf of more than 12,000 professional anthropologists from the United States and elsewhere, to express concern about the well-being of our colleagues, Professor Fabio Carvalho and Professor Pierlangela Nascimento da Cunha of the Federal University of Roraima / Núcleo Insikiran de Formação Superior Indígena.

According to reports we have received from the university, both Professor Carvalho and Professora da Cunha have received death threats as a result of their support of demarcation of the Raposa Serra do Sol indigenous reserve, a situation that the our membership has followed. Allegedly, opponents of demarcation have incited the public to commit acts of violence against them on local radio programs.

AAA’s membership applauds your having signed, on April 15, 2005, the “Portaria 534” to ratify the Raposa Serra do Sol reserve. We are concerned for the safety of those who publicly supported the ratification, particularly the safety of our professional colleagues in Roraima as well as, of course, the safety of the indigenous beneficiaries of the ratification.

Soon after the reserve’s ratification in April, a bomb was thrown at Professor Carvalho’s house, and his pregnant wife and two daughters received death threats by telephone. More recently, Professor da Cunha has received additional death threats. Local and state authorities have been informed but apparently have not provided protection. As a result, the teachers and their families have gone into hiding.

We urgently request that you order the federal police to provide protection to the teachers and their families, investigate the threats against them, bring those responsible to justice, and end a reign of terror against indigenous people and their supporters in Roraima.

We would appreciate receiving a reply indicating actions the government is taking in this case. Thank you for your prompt attention.

Respectfully,

Elizabeth Brumfiel, PhD Laura R. Graham, PhD
President Chair
Committee for Human Rights

cc.
Mr. Marcio Thomaz Bastos
Minister of Justice
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco T, Ed. Sede
70064-900 Brasília – DF
Brazil
Fax: 55-61-224-4784

Mr. Nilmário Miranda
Special Sectretary for Human Rights
Ministério da Justiça - Edifício Sede
Esplanada dos Ministérios - Bloco T - Sala 420
70064-900 - Brasília – DF
Brazil

Mr. Roberto Abdenur
Ambassador to the United States
3006 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008-3699
ambassador@brasilemb.org

Professora Miriam Pillar Grossi
President
Associação Brasileira de Antropologia
Cx Postal 5155
88.040-970 Florianópolis, SC
Brazil
aba@abant.org.br

Hon. Roger F. Noriega
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State,
Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C Street, NW, Suite 4527A
Washington, DC 20521

Hon. Senator Norm Coleman
Chair -- Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
450 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Hon. Senator Christopher J. Dodd
Ranking Member -- Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
450 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Hon. Rep. Dan Burton
Chair -- House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
House Committee on International Relations
259A Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Hon. Rep. Robert Menendez
Ranking Member -- House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
House Committee on International Relations
259A Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515