LAUNCH OF SAO PAULO MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR SWEEP

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000720 SIPDIS STATE FOR DRL AND WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV BR PHUM ELAB SOCI EAID KPAO KCRM SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF SAO PAULO MONTHLY HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR SWEEP ¶1. Summary: The following is the first in a new monthly series summarizing human rights and labor developments in the Sao Paulo Consular District (i.e. the states of Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul) not covered in broader reporting. POLICE DETAIL ONGOING NEO-NAZISM ¶2. (U) In an October event organized by the Sao Paulo Jewish community in cooperation with a local Masonic Lodge, the head detective of Sao Paulo's Intolerance and Racial Crimes unit, Margarette Barreto, and Detective Paulo Jardim of the Porto Alegre Civil Police said Brazilian police have detained approximately 300 people for criminal activities related to skinhead/neo-Nazi activities in recent years. Though still small, the detectives stated that skinhead and neo-Nazi/white supremacist movements have taken root in Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo states. The extremist groups target Jews, members of the gay, lesbian, and transgender community, Afro-descendants and people from the rural northeast of Brazil (nordestinos),for harassment and violence. Barreto and Jardim said members are typically 16-30 year old males, have a strict code of allegiance and view Adolf Hitler as an inspiration. In their literature, many southern Brazilian neo-Nazis actively promote the separation of states of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul from the rest of Brazil. They often use a map of those states as their emblem, along with swastikas and even the U.S. Confederate flag. ¶3. (U) The police officers' presentation also featured many pictures of weapons and reading material gathered from raids on skinhead/neo-Nazi residences. The officers suggested that such materials or financing for them likely comes from abroad, but had no information on possible source countries. Though these groups remain quite small, law enforcement officials said they are closely monitoring them to ensure they do not link up with organized criminal groups. INDIGENOUS VILLAGE UP IN FLAMES ¶4. (U) Longstanding tensions between Guarani Kaiowa indigenous communities and property owners in Mato Grosso do Sul over land demarcation issues have boiled over since October with the burning of two villages by landowners. The first incident, in the village of Laranjeira Nanderu occurred after Guarani settled illegally on private land they considered ancestral territory and were ordered to leave the area by judicial decree. They left behind their wooden houses, belongings and animals. According to reports by Missionary Indigenous Council (CIMI) the 130 Guarani left within the timeframe allotted by the decree and made an agreement with the Brazilian Federal Police to return for their possessions at a later date. However, the landowners, who claim they were unaware of the informal agreement, burned 35 indigenous structures remaining on their property. The incident was followed by an assault on the Guarani Kaoiwa village of Apyka????y in Dourados, where ten men attacked 15 families with gunfire and the burning of property. The landowners allegedly ordered the assault to stop the circulation of Guarani on their land in search of water. The Guarani lodged formal complaints with the federal Public Ministry (MPF),which are now under investigation. MATO GROSSO DO SUL FUNDS INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS ¶5. (U) Mato Grosso do Sul state has announced it will make USD 176,000 available for projects in indigenous communities in 29 municipalities in 2010. The projects, expected to benefit approximately 70,000 indigenous people, will focus on poverty and inequality reduction through the promotion of equal opportunity and respect for racial and cultural diversity. The money is available to NGOS, organizations and communities. Priority will be given to projects that focus on marginalized families that already participate in other social assistance programs like Bolsa Familia and the Continued Benefits Program (Beneficio de Prestacao Continuada),a scheme that provides pension benefits for workers from the informal sector. POST SUPPORTS ANNUAL SAO PAULO TIP CONFERENCE ¶6. (U) On November 25-27, the Sao Paulo State Anti-Trafficking Office held its annual conference. The meeting brought together Brazilian NGOs, police, judges and prosecutors as well as international participants, including a French judge, a Swiss Federal Police officer and a Canadian immigration official. The conference focused on the experiences of other countries with TIP legislation and the handling of victims. Consulate Sao Paulo Public Affairs Section provided translation assistance and A/RSO Investigator gave a presentation on a recent joint Brazil-U.S. case, Operation Harem, which broke up a ring that had been trafficking women to the United States. White