Recife, 9/30/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - A farmer who denounced the existence of death squads in the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba to UN special rapporteur, Asma Jahangir, has been assassinated. The farmer, Flavio Manoel da Silva, 23, died after he was shot in the head various times on Saturday night in the town of Pedras de Fogo, Paraíba. Two years ago Silva had survived an assassination attempt which left him paralyzed.

According to a local prosecutor, Rosemary Souto Maior, with the death of Silva all the other local inhabitants who spoke to the UN representative who is investigating death squads and other forms of violence are now afraid for their lives. Souto Maior says she has requested police protection for witnesses.

In the town of Pedras de Fogo there are 35 cases of murder awaiting investigation. (AB)