On November 12th, Maria José Rodrigues, a babaçu coconut breaker, and her son, identified as José do Carmo Corrêa Júnior, were murdered while carrying out their work breaking coconuts. The crime occurred on property belonging to a person identified as Cazuza. The Interstate Movement of Babaçu Coconut Breakers (MIQCB) issued a statement denouncing the neglect suffered by the coconut breakers in Maranhão.
These women, with their traditional practices and knowledge, must risk their lives to harvest coconuts, a traditional activity that ensures their livelihood and the continuation of their way of life. In addition to being ignored by public authorities, the cultural, social, and environmental role of these groups in the country is threatened daily.
ISPN stands with the struggle of the Babaçu Coconut Breakers and also demands that the government of the state of Maranhão, through the civil police, investigate the circumstances of these deaths, as well as action from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Judiciary to hold those responsible accountable for the crimes against human life and against nature that are evident in these events. The organization also supports the Coconut Breakers in their demand for urgent measures to guarantee their traditional way of life throughout the state, to confront crimes of such gravity and to ensure the lives of these women who are a symbol of resistance for Brazil.
Read the full statement from MIQCB:
The Interstate Movement of Babaçu Coconut Breakers expresses its deepest sorrow for the passing of Maria José Rodrigues and her son, identified as José do Carmo Corrêa Júnior, 38 years old, on the afternoon of November 12th, in the Boa Esperança community, municipality of Penalva.
Maria José and Jose do Carmo were collecting and cracking coconuts when their lives were cut short on the property of a person nicknamed Cazuza.
We hereby denounce the neglect suffered by the coconut breakers in the state of Maranhão, who must risk their lives to perform the most basic activity for their livelihood and the reproduction of their traditional way of life: the collection and breaking of coconuts.
We demand that the Government of the State of Maranhão conduct a swift and effective investigation, through the civil police, to ascertain the circumstances of the deaths of the coconut breaker and her son, as well as exemplary action from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Judiciary in holding those responsible accountable for the crimes against human life and against nature that are evident in the facts.
We also demand urgent measures to guarantee the traditional way of life of the babaçu coconut breakers throughout the state, so that crimes of such gravity are not repeated.
Free Babassu, Free Territory!
No more breakdowns!
São Luís, November 13, 2021
MIQCB