Rainha was convicted of murder in the death of two men during a 1989 land occupation in the eastern state of Espirito Santo. One hundred families of landless rural workers had peacefully occupied an abandoned plantation, seeking legal title to the land. The plantation owner and a military police officer opened fire on these families. In the gunfire that ensued, the landlord and cop were killed.

One year later, Rainha was arrested and accused of the killings, despite proof that he was at a different land occupation in another state at the time. The only evidence presented against him was statements wrested from workers who were tortured in military police barracks. Nevertheless, he was convicted by a four-to-three vote of a jury. He remains free pending a second trial, scheduled for September 16.

In the United States, the Miami-based defense committee is collecting messages protesting Rainha's conviction, which will be forwarded to Brazil. The ad hoc committee is also urging participation in a delegation to the retrial of Rainha in September.

Protest messages should be addressed to: Juiz de Pedro Canário, prédio do Fo'rum, CEP 29970-000. Pedro Canário, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Fax: (011) 55-27-764-1478; and mailed to: Ad Hoc Committee to Defend José Rainha, c/o Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE), 1501 NW 29th Street, Miami, FL 33142. Tel: (305) 868-5674. Fax (305) 633-7478.  
 
 
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