(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 22 September 2002, a mob attacked activists from the environmental group Greenpeace and journalists from the television network Rede Record while they were waiting to board a flight in Porto Moz – a city in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. The journalists had completed a story on land invasions carried out […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 22 September 2002, a mob attacked activists from the environmental group Greenpeace and journalists from the television network Rede Record while they were waiting to board a flight in Porto Moz – a city in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. The
journalists had completed a story on land invasions carried out by loggers who were illegally harvesting timber in the area. The victims of the attack condemned the Porto Moz prefect, Gérson Campos, who they allege instigated the violence.
As part of a report for the television programme “Reporter Record”, journalists from Rede Record visited communities in the Jaraucú River region to investigate their complaints that loggers were invading their land. The environmentalists and journalists were attacked in the airport as they were about to return to São Paolo with video footage that documented the illegal and predatory logging activities taking place.
While the attack was occurring, the head of the news crew, Fernanda Fernandes, managed to telephone the television programme “Cidade Alerta”, broadcast by the same network. As the news agency Agencia Estado reported, Fernandes gave a first-person account of the attack as it was happening. Hundreds of people had gathered around the entrance of the airport and were harassing the reporters, environmentalists and community members affected by the logging. Fernandes explained that Prefect Campos had incited the mob to “lynch” her and her colleagues.
The daily “A Gazeta”, based in Mato Grosso do Sul, in central Brazil, reported that six Military Police officers successfully evacuated the journalists and activists from the airport. However, once outside the airport their van was surrounded, they were assaulted and their videotapes were destroyed.
Paulo Adario is coordinator of Greenpeace’s Amazon Campaign. In a statement to Agencia Estado he stated, “This is a lawless land. It is shameful that the absence of the federal government allows public servants such as the Porto de Moz prefect to tyrannise the very people that they should be protecting.” “The worst part,” continued Adario, “is that journalists who come here to shed light on the struggles facing local communities are attacked and expelled. Without a free press, this area will be overrun by violence, impunity and destruction.”
The Argentine newspaper “Clarín” reported that André Campos, the prefect’s brother, is a logger and that a few days prior to the attack he received a US$58,000 fine from officials at the Brazilian Environmental Institute (Instituto Brasileño de Medio Ambiente, IBAMA) for illegal logging in the region. On 20 September, a Greenpeace boat and five other small local boats blocked the passage of a ship captained by Campos that was carrying illegally harvested wood. On 22 September, states “Clarín”, IBAMA officials arrived in the region and confirmed that André Campos was transporting illegally harvesting wood.
The hostility directed towards those who denounce these environmental abuses has a long history. In June 2000, a Greenpeace boat filled with activists and foreign journalists was greeted at Porto de Moz with a banner which read “Long Live the Armed Forces, Get Out Greenpeace.” Two years on, this animosity has surfaced again, although Prefect Campos denies that he instigated the attack. Campos instead accuses Greenpeace of attempting to turn public opinion against his administration.
Recommended Action
Send letters of support to Fernandes and her colleagues:
Rede Record
E-mail: reporterrecord@rederecord.com.br
Send appeals to Prefect Campos:
– condemning the attack
– voicing your concern over his alleged involvement in the incident
– demanding a full explanation of the events that took place
Appeals To
Prefect Gerson Campos
Prefectura de Porto Moz
Oficina del Prefecto
Procuradora Francimeire Salviano Campos
Av. Conselheiro Furtado, 1828 – Nazaré- Belém-PA
CEP 66.000-000
Tel: +55 91 223 5039
Fax: +55 91 224 9848
E-mail: prefeito@portodemoz.pa.gov.br
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
