For Immediate Release
August 24th 2005
Contact: Emily Goldman (202) 463-7575 goldman@rfkmemorial.org

At the request of Darci Frigo, the 2001 RFK Human Rights Laureate, the CHR has been working closely with the siblings of Sister Dorothy Stang, the American nun (Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur) murdered in the Brazilian Amazon on 12 February 2005. Sister Dorothy had lived in Brazil for 39 years, working selflessly on behalf of the landless and poor, fighting for the protection of their human rights. The CHR facilitated the publishing of an open letter from the Stang family to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva in Brazil’s widely-read daily newspaper O Globo on 24 August (see links below). We see this letter as a key step in our ongoing partnership with Darci and the Stang family, pushing for the implementation of an equitable land reform that holds as its central values the strengthening of human rights.

David Stang noted upon hearing of the letter's publication: "At this most trying time, it has been very helpful to have the solidarity and assistance of the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights to help us advocate for justice in our sister's case and push for the realization of her dreams for a just land reform in Brazil. We look forward to continuing our joint advocacy with RFK, possibly in the form of a delegation to Brazil to press for our sister's vision of social justice."

(Translated from Portuguese)

The murder of our sister Dorothy Stang – martyr, Pará citizen of the year, and BOA Human Rights Awardee – by ruthless, lawless ranchers and loggers continues to be a horrible shock to all of us eight siblings, and to thousands of Notre Dame Sisters around the world, CPT, MST, CNS, and the millions of law-abiding citizens who love Brazil.

Dorothy Stang was a great gift from God to your country. She believed in you, your government, your laws, your people, and the great Amazon Forest. Dorothy devoted 39 years to Brazil’s poor, landless, and marginalized. At 73, she still fought for the right of the poor to enter into your great Brazilian economy – only to be ridiculed by lawless loggers, pistoleiros, the mayor and radio station in Anapu, local police, your corrupt officials in INCRA and IBAMA, and the consortium of ranchers who many feel paid the pistoleiros to murder our sister. Although she received many death threats the last years of her life, our sister continued courageously along her path of justice and truth, never giving a second thought to the monumental task she had set for herself.

The Senators commissioned to investigate Dorothy's murder recommended that her case be federalized. Joining their call were the Stang family, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and international community. We were shocked and dismayed on June 9th to hear of the unanimous decision of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice denying federalization. If this is not the kind of case that merits federalization, it is entirely unclear what case would, given the long history of impunity in Pará. Can there be any doubt that hers is a human rights abuse case? What proof has Pará provided to us that justice will be served? What support is Pará giving to the poor and landless? We challenge you to show us that you put up the best possible arguments to press for federalization of our sister's case.

Immediately after our sister's death, you promised the world to tackle the impunity in Pará. While we were heartened to hear of your commitment to punish our sister's assassins and set aside land for the landless and conservation areas, we have seen few concrete actions. In April, the Anapu radio station reportedly said that Dorothy was evil and that people’s attempts to have their land certified would be stopped. In February at the Anapu city hall in front of your five Senators who were investigating Dorothy's murder, a representative of the loggers and ranchers accused you, Mr. President, of killing our sister. Is this not impunity?

Words are cheap, Mr. President.

Our sister gave her life for an equitable land reform that would provide the poor and landless with a viable way to put food on their tables and empower them as key actors in their own development and full participants in Brazil's democracy. Dorothy sought structural change that would target the roots of poverty, hunger, and social injustice – seeking to dismantle the inequality that robs the landless of dignity and any hope for a better tomorrow. Why should only the lawless feel they have rights?

Dorothy wrote to us of her hopes that you would visit Anapu to learn about her work with Sustainable Development Projects. Her dedication and love for Brazil sustained her; while she never gave up hope that an equitable land reform would come to pass, she died hoping her courageous death would push you and your government to bring freedom to the poor and disenfranchised in Brazil. Will you, Mr. President, who came from the poor, be the one to help them enter into the economy of Brazil as free people and not as slaves of the brutal ranchers and loggers?

Mr. President, you have not used your considerable influence to deal with the corruption in INCRA and IBAMA. Our sister told us that she had great hopes for those organizations. Nor have you sought the vital funding needed from the World Bank and other major donors to make possible the land reform advocated by the CPT, CNS, and MST. Because you have not met these challenges, you will not realize your campaign pledge to settle 430,000 landless families.

In the name of our murdered sister, we challenge you to work with the social movements and take a strong stand before the World Bank and major donors, requesting the needed funding for the land reform supported by the CPT,

MST, and CNS that empowers the poor and landless.

Dorothy Stang gave her life to your people, in order to see systemic changes and new models of growth take hold. She is a martyr, a saint, and a great hope to your people, not someone to be mocked by merciless, corrupt people who lie in wait to destroy the Amazon Forest and enslave the poor and landless. We are counting on you to take a critical stand and do what is right. She loved the Brazilian people and was not afraid to speak up for what is right and just. Can we not expect the same from you?

We have great hope in you, your government, and your people. We look forward to meeting with you when you have met these challenges.

David Stang
Marguerite Stang Hohm
Barbara Stang Richardson
Thomas Stang
John Stang
Mary Stang Heil
Norma Stang
James Stang

For a copy of the Letter printed in O Globo (in Portuguese) visit:
http://www.rfkmemorial.org/human_rights/2001_Frigo/StangCarta.pdf

For a copy of the Government Response printed in O Globo (Translated to English) visit:
http://www.rfkmemorial.org/human_rights/2001_Frigo/StangResponse.htm

For a copy of the Government Response in O Globo (in Portuguese) visit:
http://www.rfkmemorial.org/human_rights/2001_Frigo/Dorothy.pdf

CNN.com covers the Letter:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/08/24/nun.killed.ap/

For a copy of Letter to the Editor in response to recent Editorial printed in The New York Times visit:
http://www.rfkmemorial.org/human_rights/2001_Frigo/NYT_Stang.pdf

For a copy of the Ecumenical News International article on Stangs and RFK Center for Human Rights visit http://www.rfkmemorial.org/2001_Stang_en/