Dom Pedro Casaldáliga, retired bishop of the Prelature of São Félix do Araguaia, no Mato Grosso, is being seriously threatened with death. For covers, the, the Federal Government took the initiative to remove it from there, and take him to a distant place, where he remains in the custody of the Federal Police.
Under the circumstances, this government measure is justified, and deserves to be supported. When life is in danger, the state has an obligation to do what is in its power to defend it and preserve it.
Regardless of the reasons for tensions, due to the impending execution of the judgment of ejectment in favor of Xavante, of land “Marâiwatsèdè ", with the removal of all non-indigenous population, remains very strange, and profoundly mistaken, the threat made against Archbishop Casaldáliga, as if he were the culprit of the situation now existing.
Since being elected bishop, in 1971, Dom Pedro Casaldáliga is giving everyone a poignant example of evangelical authenticity, of austeridade, living poorly this Prelature that the Church has entrusted.
He is now with 84 years old. From 2002 e Bispo Emérito. As such, could have returned to their homeland, to Catalunha. But he made a point to stay in this land full of conflicts arising from unresolved land problems.
Don Pedro is unable to kill even a mosquito. Why fear of an elder 84 years, disarmed, undefended, corded and pacífico?
Violence is always bad counselor. It takes, as soon as possible, disarm the spirits, all to assume a posture of respect and understanding.
Especially bearing in mind the firm decision of Don Pedro, to remain calm in the face of threats, and also ready to testify with their lives in defense of their beliefs humble, be they Indians or settlers.
Faced with this new threat, D. Peter continued making poems, as he did throughout his life. This message sent to those who want me now kill it:
“I'll die standing like trees.
Kill me standing.
O Sun, as testemunha largest, put his seal
on my body doubly anointed ".
This is Don Pedro. With him the weapons of death only accentuate the power of their witness. His courage reminds us to seek a just and peaceful solution to the impasse created by the execution of court decision.
Firstly, count the words in the current Bishop of the Prelature, Sun Adriano Ciocca, that help us to realize the gravity of the situation: “we know that there is much suffering, especially the poorest, because of this withdrawal determined by the courts. ". But clearly warns: “Since the beginning of this occupation, alerted to the possibility of the current outcome, because it is a land whose right is guaranteed to the people by the Constitution Xavante ".
Given the ratio of conflict, guaranteed the right of Xavantes on this territory, the Federal Government must, as mandated by the Constitution also, indemnify all the improvements made by the occupants in good faith, same tenham been duped.
And as it is a paradigmatic situation, that the delay in the solution just aggravating the situation, Government must commit to re-settle farmers, de imediato, inasmuch as they are being removed from this area.
So you can meet the right of Indians, without trampling the rights of poor farmers, also do not blame the stalemate now exists.
For difficult situations, magnanimity is requer, not the shortcut of weapons.
by Don Demetrio Valentini, Tailings bispo (SP) and former president of Caritas Brazilian / article published in the Adital 13 December 2012.
