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Der virtuelle Treffpunkt der Gewerkschafts- und Betriebslinken
The virtual meeting place of the left in the unions and in the workplace
On the night of Thursday 2 December 1999, Governor Roriz arranged a massacre. Comrade José Ferreira da Silva, a 34 year old gardener with less than one year of employment in the state sector, was murdered with a 12 calibre shotgun.
Dozens were wounded. Two workers were left blinded in one eye. And it was only a wage campaign demonstration by Federal District government employees. But the Federal District government behaved as in the days of the dictatorship. The top leadership, from the Secretary of Labour up to the Home Secretary were on hand to oversee the "exemplary punishment". The military apparatus was sent in to confirm the planned act of war. Special units, dogs and anti-riot armoured vehicles against 600 unarmed workers on a peaceful and exhuberant demonstration.
Mr. Roriz's government, despite victory over the PT (Workers Party) in the previous elections, is consumed with a fury to persecute each and every workers' organisation. Fascism is its daily habit. It has destroyed union offices, prohibited demonstrations and the use of sound-system vehicles in public places, ended democratic elections for directors of public schools, forced employees to participate in demonstrations of support for the FHC, sacked workers who denounced the failure to deliver its campaign promises, and persecutes and dismisses all those who express themselves differently from its political clientele.
All of the government's arguments are false. They claim that "the workers locked the gates and prevented entry by those who wanted to work". They don't say that there are three gates so the workers' demo only blocked the entry of vehicles. They say that "an official and a police officer were attacked, and the latter's hand was fractured, when they tried to open the gates". They don't say that the meeting had not yet finished and that the workers had already decided to allow the police to open the gate. Also, they don't say that the soldiers from the special units were unlocking the tear gas grenades security pins and waiting to the last moment to prevent demonstrators escaping their explosion! A practice which, went it went wrong, cost the thrower his hand.
Finally, they claim the carrying out of a judicial order to clear the gate. They don't say that according to the record of the very same order, it was only issued after the massacre.
The truth is that the workers organised under the leadership of the Union of Federal District Employees (SINDSER), in particular the "Novacap labourers", from stonemasons to carpenters, gardeners, and many others responsible for carrying out and maintaining most government projects, were not intimidated and were giving an example of struggle and resistance. In this enterprise the ranks barred the way to the programme for taking apart and destroying the service as prescribed in the Protocol of Intentions between Governor Roriz and the FHC Chancellor of the Exchequer, Pedro Malam.
The massacre began around 1:30 p.m. when the special units arrived suddenly, shooting and beating. Men, women, and even the company creche were targets for the aggressors' fury. Fumes, shots, dogs and truncheons set the stage for the field of battle. All workers were pursued and heavily beaten. Those that displayed minimal resistance suffered point-blank shooting with rubber bullets. Two comrades' eyes were "exploded" by rubber bullets. And, not yet satisfied they fired off more shots at the injured and fallen. Various employees were hit by lead bullets. The worker José Ferreira da Silva was assassinated with three shots to the chest. Comrades were not allowed to help the injured.
Today, 3 December 1999, all the workers of Novacap, together with representatives of other unions and parliamentarians, are meeting at the site of the massacre to reaffirm their courage. The strike called yesterday continues indefinitely, until their demands are achieved.
We ask all workers in Brazil and throughout the world to join in our fight denouncing, demanding by all means within their power, the punishment of all those involved in the massacre. From the one who carried out the murder up to the main instigator, Governor Roriz.
As with the massacres of the Sem-Terra (landless) or the murders of various workers who were fighting for their right to a better life, it is a crime against all workers. It will not remain unpunished!
1 - Peaceful demonstration
2 - Dancing workers
3 - Special units and armoured vehicle
4 - Violence: union representative with perforated eye and various shots to the body.
5 - Violence: SINDSER President Francisco Alves, seriously wounded in the back of the head.
6 - Violence: Comrade José Ferreira da Silva, on the ground, murdered.
7 - Violence: In the white shirt and standing to the left of the murdered comrade on the ground, Colonel Jair Tedeschi - Coordinator of Operations for the Ministry of Internal Security - watches another fallen comrade being "shot up".
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