In Brazil, the judiciary power is often used in an attempt to criminalize activists within social movements and their supporters, trying to coerce and restrain them both politically and socially. This is a way for the multinational corporation Aracruz Cellulose to take advantage of it's economic power, by abusing this restrain instrument in an attempt to dismantle those who dare to oppose it's wicked development logic.

The priest Emil Schubert, union leader Luis Alberto, professor Elza and radio broadcaster Ligia Sancio have been targeted by the corporation, which has decided to open a lawsuit against them to demand reparations to the company for moral and physical damage if they do not cease their political protest. This means that Aracruz is trying to stop them, using a judicial measure, from expressing themselves against the irresponsible social and environmental practices of the company.

In October 2005, indigenous Tupinikim and Guarani occupied Aracruz factories in the state of Espírito Santo, after trying every bureaucratic way to claim back their ancient land currently occupied by Aracruz. The activists were present during the action to witness the reaction of the Brazilian State, which has shown itself to be excessively violent against many social movements. In one example of such violent actions, the Federal Police, a couple of months after an indigenous protest in January 2006, destroyed two villages and injured thirteen indigenous people. The police action was condemned by the Organization of American States (OEA) as well as several international groups.

Previous Features: Aracruz uses media and billboards to get local population against indigenous | Aracruz Cellulose is accused of racism by Tupiniquins and Guaranis, Brazilian indigenous of Espírito Santo | Aracruz logs Atlantic Forest revegetation area in Espírito Santo

Newspaper "O Independente (The Independent One)": Interview about Aracruz Celulose with the Newtork Alert Against Green Deserts (in portuguese)

For more information visit Indymedia Brazil

Last Monday, July 16th, after almost two years, Ligia Sancio, and the others activists, were served with a Rogatory Letter which gave her a period of fifteen days to present her defense to the Public Prosecutor for judgment by the city of Vitoria, Espírito Santo's capital.

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