Brasilien: Xukuru Häuptling ohne fairer Gerichtsverhandlung verurteilt
Am 21.5.2009 wurde Xukuru Häuptling Marcos Luidson ohne fairer Gerichtsverhandlung zu 10 Jahren und 4 Monaten Haft und 50.000 real (ca. 17.000 Euro) Geldstrafe verurteilt. Der Richter des Bundesgerichts von Pernambuco, Brasilien, sprach das Urteil aus ohne die Zeugenaussagen und Verteidigung anzuhören.
Der Schuldspruch geht auf einen Vorfall im Jahr 2003 zurück als ein Mordanschlag auf Marcos Luidson vereitelt wurde. Bei diesem Vorfall starben 2 Menschen der Xukuru. Der immer wieder kehrende Konflikt zwischen Xukuru und ehemaligen Landbesitzern geht auf die Landfrage zurück. Die Interessen großer Landbesitzer, Politik und Wirtschaft stehen im Vordergrund und missachten die (Menschen)Rechte der Xukuru.
Dom Francisco Biasin, Bischof von Pesqueira, ist erschüttert über die Verurteilung von Marcos Luidson. Er ist sich sicher, dass das Urteil eine Spaltung und eine interne Schwächung der Xukuru zum Ziel hat.
Die Xukuru werden von CIMI, Projektpartnerorganisation der Dreikönigsaktion, unterstützt. Mehr zu CIMI...
CIMI Newsletter nr. 8 (2nd of June 2009)
Xukuru chief sentenced prior to defense witnesses testimony
Judgment of chief raises questions over right to proper defense
May 21 Xukuru chief Marcos Luidson was sentenced to 10 years and 4 months of imprisonment and a 50.000 real fine. Federal Court judge of Pernambuco sentenced without hearing several defense testimonies, planned for May 26. The deposition of Federal Deputy Fernando Ferro, in Brasília, was not provided until Thursday May 28. Also not heard was Raquel Dodge of the Federal Prosecutors office.
Door: Paul Wolters, Cimi
The case dates from 2003. After a murder attempt on Marcos, which killed two accompanying Xukuru, the community revolted and came down on the rival group responsible for the killings. The conflict entailed questions of alliances of this group with former invaders of the Xukuru indigenous land, who still claim possession of the land. In the uproar, objects and houses in the village were broken. Marcos, better known as Marquinho, is accused of organizing the revolt, which he denies.
Conflict over land
The violence occurs in the context of the land conflict, between de Xukuru and the former landowners. Ever since the Xukuru claimed their land, which was finally recognized by the Federal Government and demarcated in 2002, they suffered from violence, intimidation and murders instigated by former landowners. Marquinho´s father, Chicão Xukuru, who was murdered in 1998.
The indigenous land of the Xukuru people is located in the rural area of Pesqueira, in the state of Pernambuco. Both witnesses Ferro and Dodge were present the day after the conflict to record depositions from those involved.
Criminalization of community leaders
Cacique Marcos Luidson was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison, plus a fine of 50.000 Brazilian real (about 17.000 euros). Upon receiving the news of the sentence, he said that he had expected the decision. The entire community understands that the impact reaches beyond those accused. At least 43 Xukuru – most of them with a leading position in the community – are currently being processed; two have been sentenced and imprisoned already; 31 have been sentenced and another ten await judgment. It is widely held that elite politicians and economic interests of the region are behind an attempt to destructure the Xukuru community by means of criminalization of their leaders. During the investigation about the murder attempt and following revolt chief Marquinho was cited as a provocateur rather than a victim.
Judgment questioned
Both anthropologists and Human Rights organizations of Pernambuco question the investigation and judicial process following the conflict. In the very case of Marquinho, defense attorneys question both the failure to provide the right to proper defense and the length of the sentences, considered excessive. Apparent irregularities in witness processing by the Federal Public Ministry in some of the cases are also being questioned. The case will be appealed in the 5th Federal Regional Tribunal, in Recife, Pernambuco.
Supporters
Dom Francisco Biasin, Bishop of Pesqueira, asked in a memorandum, “How is it possible to summarily condemn a leader without first hearing the witnesses, thus cutting off the right to defense? How is it possible to anticipatorily hold an accused without proof, only on the “pretext” of dealing with a “dangerous” person?” The Bishop affirms that the criminalization seeks to undermine the self-esteem of the people and to divide them internally, weakening the Xukuru struggle.
Also among those repudiating the situation is the president of the Pernambuco Legislature, Isaltino Nascimento. The situation was denounced to the Organization of American States (OAS) in March 2009.
