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Date: 21 August 2002
Victims: Mariana Ferreira Ph.D.; Hiparidi Top'tiro
Country: Brazil
Subject: Death Threats Made Against Anthropologist and
Environmentalist
Case Numbers: br0215_fer; br0215_top
Type of alert: New
NIssues: Freedom of opinion and expression; Harassment or
intimidation

FACTS OF THE CASE:

For the past few months, Brazilian indigenous leader
Hiparidi Top'tiro and University of Tennessee anthropologist
Dr. Mariana Ferreira have received numerous death threats. 
Dr. Ferreira is a cultural and medical anthropologist who
specializes in the ethnology of indigenous peoples of
Brazil, the United States, and India.  Hiparidi Top'tiro is
a well-known environmental campaigner with the Xavante Wara
association, a Brazilian environmental organization active
in the Sangradouro Indian reserve of Brazil.  Dr. Ferriera
serves as a consultant with the Xavante Wara.  As part of
her research, she makes regular visits to the region. 
During a June 2002 visit, government officials warned her
that her that Hiparidi Top'tiro and members of his family
had received numerous death threats.  During that trip, Dr.
Ferreira also received threats.  While driving in the
region, an unmarked car tried to force her off the road.  

It is believed that Hiparidi Top'tiro and, by association,
Dr. Ferreira, are being targeted because of a legal action
that Xavante Wara filed against local landowners for
deforesting part of a protected indigenous area.  The
threats are reportedly coming from the regional
administrator of the National Indigenous Foundation
(Fundacao Nacional do Indio, FUNAI).  According to an
Amnesty International researcher in the region, "the
regional administrator of FUNAI allegedly has strong links
to landowners in the region and has been intimidating and
threatening Hiparidi Top'tiro and his family for a long
time."  The threats have been very strong, with the FUNAI
official reportedly telling Hiparidi Top'tiro that he would
tie up his feet and hands and throw him into the trash.  The
FUNAI regional administrator also reportedly stated that no
one can hurt him because he "has powerful friends" in the
government.  Hiparidi Top'tiro has filed numerous reports
detailing the threats with local authorities but no official
action has been taken against FUNAI.

(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty
International and correspondence with Dr. Mariana
Ferreira.)


RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHT STANDARDS:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
* Article 12: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary
interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his [or her] honor and
reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the
law against such interference or attacks
* Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion
and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions
without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.
* Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and
security of person.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

Expressing serious concern for the safety of Hiparidi
Top'tiro, his family, and Dr. Mariana Ferreira;

Urging the authorities to promptly investigate the death
threats against these individuals and to bring those
responsible to justice; and 

Requesting that the authorities provide appropriate federal
protection and guarantee the safety of Hiparidi Top'tiro and
Dr. Mariana Ferreira.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:


Dra Fabiola Dorr Kaloy
Federal Attorney General of the Mato Grosso State
Rua Osorio Duque Estrada 107, Ed. Capital - Bairro Araes
78005-720 Cuiaba - MT, Brazil
Fax: 011 55 65 612 5085
Salutation: Dear Attorney General:

Sr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Federal Secretary for Human Rights
Secretaria de Estado dos Direitos Humanos
Ministerio da Justica
Esplanada dos Ministerios
Bloco T,40 andar , Sala 420
70064-900 Brasilia - DF
Brazil
Fax: 011 55 61 226 7980
Salutation: Dear Mr. Secretary:

Otacilio Antunes dos Reis Filho
President of the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI)
SEPS Quadra 702/902 Projecao A, Ed. Lex
70390-025 Brasilia - DF
Brazil
Fax: 011 55 61 226 8782  (When someone answers say 'Me
Salutation: Dear Mr. President:


COPIES SENT TO:


Ambassador Rubens Barbosa
Ambassador of Brazil to the United States
Brazilian Embassy
3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 238 2827
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador:


Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you
may receive, or direct any questions you may have to
Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200
New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797;
email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and
respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and
as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and
the international human rights standards and instruments
that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific
organization and professional affiliation is always
helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do
not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days
from the date of the posting unless an update has been
issued.

PLEASE NOTE: You may view the digitally signed version of
the AAASHRAN alert on the World Wide Web at:

http://shr.aaas.org/aaashran/alert.php?a_id=231


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