UN Hears that in Brazil Government Is Main Promoter of Discrimination

The special rapporteur of the United Nations Organization (UNO) on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Doudou Diène, began a trip to Brazil in the Federal Capital on October 17 hearing reports from civil-society representatives and organizations who accuse the Brazilian government and State of being the main promoters of discrimination in Brazil.

The chief of the Krahô-Kanela people, Mariano Ribeiro, reported the suffering of 96 Krahô-Kanela who over the past two years have been forced to live in a 100 m² (1072 square feet) house in the municipality of Gurupi, in the northern state of Tocantins, where the public garbage dump of the city used to be located.

As a result, over 80% of them may die of verminosis. Without enough space for growing crops or making a living, the Krahô-Kanela have been claiming 29,300 hectares of their traditional land, which is called Mata Alagada, for more than 20 years.

After hearing the report from Mariano Ribeiro, Diène said that, like in Brazil, indigenous people are the main victims of prejudice in other countries he visited.

"Discrimination against indigenous peoples is the root of the problem. In the beginning, people discussed, based on racist positions, whether indigenous people had a human soul or not.

"Discrimination against indigenous people led to discrimination against black people, and this is why these two forms of prejudice are intimately connected to one another," recalled the UN rapporteur.

Diène will also be visiting the cities of Recife and Pesqueira, where he will visit the land of the Xukuru people. The first results of the trip will be presented on November 7 to the UN.

Cimi – Indianist Missionary Council – www.cimi.org.br

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil’s New Corruption Scandal Further Hurts Former President Lula’s Reputation

Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, moved quickly and without considering political allies ordered ...

New President of Brazil’s PTB Party Is No Politician

Deputy Roberto Jefferson’s decision to resign the presidency of the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB) ...

Caracas Opposition Wants Brazil to Accept Venezuela in Mercosur to Rein In Chavez

Antonio Lezama, one of Venezuela's main opposition leaders has been invited to address Brazilian ...

Brazil’s Zero Hunger Goal for 2005: 8.7 Million Families

At a meeting, last September 30, between Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ...

Brazil’s Anti-Drug Operation Kills 19, But Doesn’t Nab Drug Lord

After a police operation, which lasted more than six hours, left at least 19 ...

Bovespa, in São Paulo, Brazil's key stock index

Brazil and China: Two Places Where Stocks Are Jumping Crazy

In its latest issue Money and Markets discusses why Brazil, India, China (three of ...

Brazil Wants Better Integration with the 10 Countries It Borders

A greater integration between Brazil and South America is one of the focuses of ...

The author's corner in Itacaré, Bahia, Brazil

Life Is a Daily Adventure for This Gringo in Bahia, Brazil

When I catch myself whining about the rain or all the work to do ...

Latest Polls Show Dilma Winning Brazil Presidency in the First Round

Dilma Rousseff, from the Workers Party, seems to be opening a significant advantage over ...

Old Ways

Congress has been discussing whether elected officials should hire their own relatives. A congressman ...