The MST is urging all those who oppose this frame-up to send protest messages to: Juiz de Pedro Canário, prédio do Fo'rum, CEP 29970-000. Pedro Canário, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Fax: (011) 55-27-764-1478. Copies should be sent to: MST, Rua Ministro Godoy 1484, CEP 05015-900, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Fax: (011) 55-11-871-4612.

"This charge was clearly politically motivated and obviously intended to harass members of the landless rural workers' movement. If José Rainha is imprisoned, we will consider him a prisoner of conscience and demand his immediate and unconditional release... It is intolerable that such groundless criminal charges are being used against José Rainha and other rural activists as a form of political intimidation."

Statement released by Amnesty International

"The failure of the Brazilian judiciary in this case raises serious concerns about the right to due process and an impartial tribunal, general principles of law recognized universally in the legal systems. The credibility of Brazil's justice system is tarnished by the gross injustice in Mr. Rainha's case. I urge that you carefully review the facts, procedures, and conclusions of law in Mr. Rainha's case and take appropriate remedial action."

F. Michael Willis

Georgetown University Law Center

Washington, D.C.

"I demand justice for José Rainha. He has been falsely accused and the just people of the world will not accept this immoral act.

Matthew Grant

Farmer

Tillery, North Carolina  
 
 
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