Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Brazil. Killed another activist in defense of the Amazon in Pará

Activist in defense of the Amazon Obed Loyla Souza was killed last Thursday in the Brazilian state of Pará (north), but until Tuesday, has not seen the news. The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), linked to the Catholic Church states that Loyla Souza was shot in the ear. The body was found in the city of Tucurui, in one of the main areas of illegal logging in the state.

The CPT stated that at the moment is not known what causes this latest killing, but some evidence suggests that between January and February, the farmer representatives discussed with loggers in the region. The CPT also maintains that the day of the murder, a black van with four people inside came at Camp Hope, where the victim lived.


President Barrageira Settlement Project and treasurer of the Casa Familiar Rural Tucuruí Francisco Evaristo, claims to have seen the truck. As as happened with Loyla, Evaristo is also threatened with death, the state-run Agencia Brasil reported. In late May, four environmentalists were killed, including three in Pará and one in Rondonia.

The CPT states that a thousand people are threatened. On 3 June the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, convened an emergency meeting to discuss this situation. The event was attended by the governors of Para, Simao Jatene, Amazonas, Aziz Elias, and Rondonia, Confucius Moura, and six ministers.

After the meeting the President decided to deploy more troops in Pará the National Security Force. Remain in the state for an indefinite period.

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