regarding Br Rodrigo Peret ofm and the landless families in Brasil

Dr. Raul Jungman Ministro da Reforma Agraria Governador do Estado de Minas Gerais Dr. Eduardo Brandão de Azeredo Comandante da PMMG Cel. Mário Porto 30 September 1998 We of the Franciscans Friars Minor wish to express our indignation and revulsion at the recent violence committed by local landowners in Santa Vitória, Minas Gerais State, on the 21st of September 1998. We have learned that an armed group of fazendeiros (belonging to the União de Defesa das Propriedades Rurais) badly beat and tried to kill our confrere Frei Rodrigo Amédée Péret, Coordinator of the Pastoral Land Commission of the Diocese of Uberlândia. He and other collaborators in conjunction with the local judicial and police authorities were trying to resolve peacefully a land occupation dispute on the Perobas farm estate. Instead, they were literally ambushed on the way there by a mob of landowners who assaulted and threatened to kill them. We cannot but condemn such actions and ask that the perpetrators of such actions be sought and brought to justice. We also ask that appropriate measures be taken to guarantee the safety of Frei Rodrigo and his collaborators. We would also like to express our dismay and sorrow over the fact that earlier that day 80 landless families were chased off the Perobas estate by a mob of armed landowners who beat some of them, threatened to kill them all and set fire to the surrounding brush to force their departure. Frei Rodrigo and his collaborators have always used a peaceful and legal means to resolve land occupation conflicts according to the precepts set out in the nation's Agrarian Reform laws. We ask that the landowners be held to the same duty to respect the law and that the local police and military authorities ensure that happens. We realize the complexity and difficulties associated with implementing the land reform laws, but the violence just described has no justification whatsoever. It is only through a constructive dialogue that the landless families and the landowners can create social harmony and peace. May the God of life enlighten your hearts and minds to work towards authentic justice and peace. Sincerely, Peter Schorr, OFM Director, JPIC Office CC: Dom Serafim Araujo, Cardeal Arcebispo de Belo Horizonte Dom José Alberto, Bispo de Uberlândia Jornal Estado de Minas

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