The conflict started in 1979

LAND TENURE: ONE OF BRASIL’S PROBLEMS. THE THREAT TO THE FISHING VILLAGE OF PRAINHA DO CANTO VERDE.

The conflicts between owners of huge tracts of land which often lay unproductive and the Movement of Land-less Peasants have put a lot of pressure on the Government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso to press ahead with the much needed land reform. The reason for the success of the Movement is due much to the determination of its people and their unity, as well as to the moral and financial support given by others over the past twenty years.

But the Artisan fishing people also have their land-tenure problems. Like in the internationally known fishing village of Prainha do Canto Verde. Since the “grileiro”, Portuguese for speculator, Antônio Sales Magalhães discovered the village and other beaches nearby in 1979, the suffering for the fishing families began.
 

Only after six years did the native residents find out that the elegant man had managed to register the 749 hectares of Prainha do Canto Verde, and that even the judge was convinced that nobody lived in the village. With the help of some friends in the Land registry, he had become the “rightful” owner of the land. Once the property was properly laundered, it passed on to the real estate company of  Henrique Jorge.

Finally the fishermen had some luck. The Cardinal and Archbishop of Fortaleza, D. Aloisio Lohscheider, founded the Center for Human Rights to assist communities with legal advice and help them to organize their communities to defend themselves. Lawyers from the Center were able to convince the judge of the State Superior Court to hear the case. The whole process was  sent  back to the district judge in Beberibe, the county seat, asking for expert analysis and a hearing of the witnesses within 90 days. It took 11 years but finally in the year 2000 the case found its way back to the Superior Court where it is likely to come to a decision in the first half of 2001. Not only the parties directly involved are anxious to learn the outcome, but the entire area is energized, and many other fishing communities along the coast are holding their breath for the outcome.  Recently a first expert opinion from the State Attorney was made public. He  called the purchase “immoral fraud”, and sees only one way to justice: return the land to the rightful owners, the fishermen of Prainha do Canto Verde.
 
 

The reaction by the real estate company owner, Henrique Jorge, was expected. Knowing that it will be difficult for him to win the case he returned to his old tactics: divide the community  by terrorizing some and rewarding others. He had done this in the past and managed to scare a lot of people. By splitting the community in two camps he hopes to force a negotiation. He has one point in his favor, should he loose this decision he has a right to appeal it which could result in more years of waiting, for a population already tired of fighting and waiting.
So he has returned to his old tactic of psycho-terrorism. Taking advantage of  vacation recess of the judicial system Jorge put up a barbed wire fence between the road and the sand-dunes just to show everybody who is in charge. While several government agencies rush to embargo the fence, there is no police action because of the justice recess.
 

Part of the fence is taken down at night by opposing forces, but is rebuilt the next day by Jorge’s men, starting a tug of war that will only escalate over the coming weeks and possibly lead to violence. The organized part of the community is planning a counterattack on various fronts: A new court action will prevent any possible construction by the real estate company or sale of the property if the judge decides to accept the arguments against the land takeover. Our people also need to campaign for public support, lobby the members of the superior court (via the press and Internet) and prepare the residents for am extended  period of resistance. But for that we need financial support. The Human Rights Center can no longer provide legal support free of charge and we need to carry out environmental studies to support the argument that the land development plan of the real estate company will permanently damage one of the few remaining, coastal eco-systems of the 56 km long coast of Beberibe.

To put up against the sleazy tactics of Henrique Jorge we will need teach young and old, and document the history of this conflict in a booklet,  folk-poetry, and musical form for the future. The people of Prainha trust in God, and lately also in the judicial process. But to make justice work we have to mobilize all possible forces.

Since 1992 a group of idealists around the world ( Society Amigos da Prainha do Canto Verde) is supporting and financing the fishermen in their quest for justice and sustainable development. As you can see on our website:
www.fortalnet.com.br/~fishnet, the results are very positive and are reaching out beyond the community  all over the state of Ceará.

Click here for     The Conflict since 1979
Click here for             Latest developments

On February 10 at 5 PM over 500 women, kids and fishermen from Prainha do Canto Verde and 25 fishing communities from all over the state including a group of 11 representatives of the indigenous people of “Tremembé”, “Genipapu” and “Tapeba”  destroyed the fence to show their indignation about the continuos human rights violation by real estate companies without any intervention by the government..........     click here for the full portuguese  text

Help us to support the families of Prainha do Canto Verde in their battle for justice and the right to live in their community. We gladly accept your donations:

BRAZIL: Account no. 6.749-0 agency no  2850-9 at Banco do Brasil in Beberibe, Ceará in the Name of Associação dos Moradores de Prainha do Canto Verde.
SWITZERLAND / OTHER COUNTRIES: Account no. 0384-877090-1 at Swiss Credit Bank in Kloten, Switzerland (Swift Code for your bank CRESCHZZ83A) or send check to: Ursula Siegenthaler, Wässerwies 9, 8712 Stäfa, Switzerland

Your moral support is just as important for our people so please send us a short e-mail*  expressing your solidarity and support to our special e-mail address below.  Don’t forget to put your full name, adress and name of organization if any.
 
e-mail
terra@fortalnet.com.br
*  Postal adress:
Associação dos Moradores de Prainha do Canto Verde
62.840-000 Beberibe, Ceará, Brazil