Cablegate: Launch of Sao Paulo Monthly Human Rights and Labor Sweep

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TAGS: PGOV BR PHUM ELAB SOCI EAID KPAO KCRM
SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF SAO PAULO MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR SWEEP

1. Summary: The following is the first in a new monthly series
summarizing human rights and labor developments in the Sao Paulo
Consular District (i.e. the states of Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa
Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul) not covered in
broader reporting.

POLICE DETAIL ONGOING NEO-NAZISM

2. (U) In an October event organized by the Sao Paulo Jewish
community in cooperation with a local Masonic Lodge, the head
detective of Sao Paulo's Intolerance and Racial Crimes unit,
Margarette Barreto, and Detective Paulo Jardim of the Porto Alegre
Civil Police said Brazilian police have detained approximately 300
people for criminal activities related to skinhead/neo-Nazi
activities in recent years. Though still small, the detectives
stated that skinhead and neo-Nazi/white supremacist movements have
taken root in Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo states. The
extremist groups target Jews, members of the gay, lesbian, and
transgender community, Afro-descendants and people from the rural
northeast of Brazil (nordestinos), for harassment and violence.
Barreto and Jardim said members are typically 16-30 year old males,
have a strict code of allegiance and view Adolf Hitler as an
inspiration. In their literature, many southern Brazilian
neo-Nazis actively promote the separation of states of Parana,
Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul from the rest of Brazil. They
often use a map of those states as their emblem, along with
swastikas and even the U.S. Confederate flag.

3. (U) The police officers' presentation also featured many
pictures of weapons and reading material gathered from raids on
skinhead/neo-Nazi residences. The officers suggested that such
materials or financing for them likely comes from abroad, but had
no information on possible source countries. Though these groups
remain quite small, law enforcement officials said they are closely
monitoring them to ensure they do not link up with organized
criminal groups.

INDIGENOUS VILLAGE UP IN FLAMES

4. (U) Longstanding tensions between Guarani Kaiowa indigenous
communities and property owners in Mato Grosso do Sul over land
demarcation issues have boiled over since October with the burning
of two villages by landowners. The first incident, in the village
of Laranjeira Nanderu occurred after Guarani settled illegally on
private land they considered ancestral territory and were ordered
to leave the area by judicial decree. They left behind their
wooden houses, belongings and animals. According to reports by
Missionary Indigenous Council (CIMI) the 130 Guarani left within
the timeframe allotted by the decree and made an agreement with the
Brazilian Federal Police to return for their possessions at a later
date. However, the landowners, who claim they were unaware of the
informal agreement, burned 35 indigenous structures remaining on
their property. The incident was followed by an assault on the
Guarani Kaoiwa village of Apyka????y in Dourados, where ten men
attacked 15 families with gunfire and the burning of property. The
landowners allegedly ordered the assault to stop the circulation of
Guarani on their land in search of water. The Guarani lodged
formal complaints with the federal Public Ministry (MPF), which are
now under investigation.

MATO GROSSO DO SUL FUNDS INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS

5. (U) Mato Grosso do Sul state has announced it will make USD

176,000 available for projects in indigenous communities in 29
municipalities in 2010. The projects, expected to benefit
approximately 70,000 indigenous people, will focus on poverty and
inequality reduction through the promotion of equal opportunity and
respect for racial and cultural diversity. The money is available
to NGOS, organizations and communities. Priority will be given to
projects that focus on marginalized families that already
participate in other social assistance programs like Bolsa Familia
and the Continued Benefits Program (Beneficio de Prestacao
Continuada), a scheme that provides pension benefits for workers
from the informal sector.

POST SUPPORTS ANNUAL SAO PAULO TIP CONFERENCE

6. (U) On November 25-27, the Sao Paulo State Anti-Trafficking
Office held its annual conference. The meeting brought together
Brazilian NGOs, police, judges and prosecutors as well as
international participants, including a French judge, a Swiss
Federal Police officer and a Canadian immigration official. The
conference focused on the experiences of other countries with TIP
legislation and the handling of victims. Consulate Sao Paulo
Public Affairs Section provided translation assistance and A/RSO
Investigator gave a presentation on a recent joint Brazil-U.S.
case, Operation Harem, which broke up a ring that had been
trafficking women to the United States.
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