BRAZIL: Brazil police orders arrest of suspects of Amazon murders.

Record ID: 318932

  • Title: BRAZIL: Brazil police orders arrest of suspects of Amazon murders.
  • Date: 22nd July 2011
  • Summary: PHOTOS OF THE SUSPECTS WHO THE POLICE HAVE REQUESTED THE ARREST FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIONS OVER THE MURDER OF COUPLE OF AMAZON ACTIVISTS PHOTO OF MAN SUSPECTED OF HAVING ORDERED THE MURDERS
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Reuters ID: LVAAQO5SG44YEV9Q7Z4K2UK8UVS2
  • Story Text: Brazilian police release order to arrest the main suspects responsible for murdering two Amazon activists over a land dispute in Para state.
    Brazilian police sent out on Wednesday (July 20) a request for a judge to order the arrest of three men suspected of having participated in the murder of two Amazon activists.
    The couple of environmentalists Jose Claudio da Silva and his wife, Maria do Espirito Santo, were shot dead in Para state on May 24 over a land dispute. Authorities said the rubber tapper and leading activist was ambushed with his wife and killed near the city of Maraba.
    Both victims were active in the same organization of forest workers that was founded by legendary conservationist Chico Mendes, who was assassinated by ranchers in 1988.
    Police Chief Silvio Maues said the couple was killed because they tried to settle a dispute between rural workers and a man who purchased lands in the state.
    "The buyer (of this land) ended up not occupying it because he felt intimidated by the presence of rural workers in this region," he said.
    In Brazil's northern countryside, the poor compete with big farmers, cattle ranchers and illegal loggers over natural resources -- and most disputes are often settled with guns.
    A recent wave of killings has seized the lives of six activists and rural workers in less than a month.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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