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Social justice news
December 5 , 2007

Death threats for Brazilian priest
Military police in the Brazilian province of Xinguara have received detailed information that three gunmen have been hired to assassinate Father Henri Burin des Roziers. He works for Catholic Agency for Overseas Development partner organisation CPT, the Pastoral Land Commission of the Brazilian Catholic Church. Des Roziers and CPT struggle to secure the freedom of bonded laborers who are currently in the hands of big landowners in Brazil.

The threats represent more than just words. American nun Dorothy Stang was brutally murdered in the region only two years ago because of her stance against injustice. As with Sister Dorothy, Father Henri, now 74 years old, turned his faith into a lifelong commitment to bring to justice those responsible for some of the worst human rights violations.

Like Strang, Des Roziers has been offered police protection, but CPT says this alone won’t make a difference.

According to CPT, 814 assassinations have been registered in the State of Para between 1971 and 2006, of which 568 have still not been investigated. Of cases that were investigated, only 92 criminal cases resulted, and a pitiful 22 taken to court. In all, only 16 gunmen and six of those who "commissioned" assassinations have been convicted.

To add insult to injury, of those six who were convicted, only one is in prison.

During a recent interview, CAFOD asked Father Henri whether the death threats and the impunity make him feel afraid.

He explained: “When you choose to be a priest, you give up important things, like the close emotional bond that most people have with their partner and their children.

"But in return you win the freedom to run risks.”

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