Indigenous Community In Brazil Facing Imminent Eviction

Brussels, 25 October 2011 (ITUC OnLine): The International Trade Union Confederation expressed its deep concern about the evictions which put the members of the Guaraní-Kaiowá community in Laranjeira Ñanderu at risk.

According to Information received by the ITUC, thirty-five families of the Guarani-Kaiowá community in Laranjeira Ñanderu face imminent eviction from their ancestral lands in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. If evicted they will be forced to live by the side of a busy highway on the outskirts of a
neighbouring town, with no access to water or land to plant crops.

Please consult the letter sent by the ITUC to the Minister of Justice, José Cardozo for further details of the long history of evictions:

http://wwwituc-csi.org/comunidad-indigena-en-brasil.html?lang=es

"Indigenous communities have an absolute right to remain on their ancestral lands" said Sharan Burrow. "This long history of evictions endangers their very existence. The Brazilian government must genuinely comply with their national and international obligations".

The ITUC, together with its affiliate the CUT, urge the competent authorities to prioritise the identification of Guaraní-Kaiwwá lands in Laranjeira Ñanderu within the overall process of land identifications, which began in 2007 and to fulfil their obligations under the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Convention 169, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Brazilian constitution by completing all outstanding land demarcations.

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 308 affiliated national organisations from 151 countries and territories.
Website: http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

ENDS

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