NGOS criticize indictment of firefighters from Alter do Chão

According to information, no forensic exams were conducted that could identify the culprits of the forest fires

Santarem, Pará, 11/28/2019 It is with great relief that the Alter do Chão Fire Brigade has informed that the four firefighters who were unjustly arrested in the early hours of November 26 were released, albeit on recognizance and with precautionary measures, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 28. Daniel, Gustavo, João and Marcelo were received emotionally by family and friends in Santarém, Pará. Twitter Alter do Chão Fire Brigade

The undersigned civil society organizations express concern over press reports that members of the Alter do Chão Fire Brigade have been indicted as part of the highly questionable “Operation Fire of Sairé” carried out by the Civil Police of the state of Pará.

According to the same reports, no forensic exams were conducted that could identify the real culprits of the fires that ravaged the region in September 2019 and the inquiries requested by the defense, as authorized by the Statute Governing the Practice of Law, were not completed. This indicates a hasty investigation that is inconsistent with what is expected under the democratic rule of law.

It is perplexing that civil society organizations are being held responsible for environmental crimes when, in fact, their activities, especially in the Amazon region, are essential for environmental preservation and the support of local populations – especially given the widespread knowledge of the strong presence of land-grabbing and speculation in the region.

We hope, therefore, that the Pará State Public Prosecutor’s Office, in particular the 3rd Prosecutor’s Office in Santarém, will observe the recommendations made by human rights bodies (such as Recommendation No. 25 of December 11 by the National Human Rights Council) and exercise an effective and thorough control of police activity, including recognizing the flaws identified in the investigation.

Artigo 19
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Terra de Direitos
Instituto-E
Centro de Estudos e Defesa do Negro do Pará- CEDENPA
Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra – MST
Plataforma dos Movimentos Sociais pela Reforma do Sistema Político
Sociedade Beneficente e Cooperativista Cristo Redentor.
Coletivo de Comunicação Popular Periferia em Foco.
Idade Mídia Comunicação para Cidadania
Rede Nacional de Proteção a Jornalista e Comunicadores – Amazônia
Associação Cultural dos Povos da Amazônia
Juventude Cabana
Justiça Global
Intersindical Central da Classe Trabalhadora
Grupo de Defesa da Amazônia – GDA
Instituto Physis – Cultura & Ambiente
Instituto UPDATE
Associação das pessoas com deficiência de Óbidos- APDO
SOS Corpo Instituto Feminista para a Democracia
IMAFLORA – Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola
Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens – MAB
Akarui
Uma Gota No Oceano
Cese – Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço
Associação Brasileira de Juristas pela Democracia – ABJD
Intervozes – Coletivo Brasil de Comunicação Social
KOINONIA Presença Ecumênica e Serviço
Processo de Articulação e Diálogo – PAD