Brasília, 2/18/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The death of a farmer, Ulisses Stefani, in the town of Abelardo Luz, state of Santa Catarina, at the hands of Indians during a dispute over land ownership has brought forth a reaction in Congress where a number of calls for action have been made. Deputy Odacir Zonta (PP-SP) has requested detailed information on all Indian areas from the statistical bureau (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) (IBGE), and asked the Ministry of Justice for a report on demarcation processes.

"We need precise information so we can set up guidelines," says Zonta, adding that the problem is complicated because Indians are claiming land that has been in some families for a century. He says farmers need adequate compensation when their land is expropriated to become part of Indian reserves. "At the moment, farmers get payment for anything they have built on the land, but nothing for the land itself," says Zonta, as he explains that a constitutional amendment is needed to correct the situation.

There have been casulties on both sides. Last Sunday, an Indian, Décio Lemos, was shot in the chest in Mato Grosso do Sul during another land dispute. (AB)