Message-ID: <01I6SRW7B3DE90SDX6@umiami.ir.miami.edu> Date: Sun, 7 Jul 1996 17:13:12 -0400 From: "Steven Green, Dept. Biology; Tel:(305)284-4272" Subject: U.N. finds Prof. Agudo to be politically persecuted by To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
From: IN%"mailto:iwcbr@ax.apc.org" "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" 6-JUL-1996 20:30:52.81 Subj: Dolphin RefugeeACTION ALERT FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS - PROFESSOR IGNACIO AGUDO GRANTED UN REFUGEE STATUS, BUT STILL NEEDS HELP!
Dear colleagues,
As you may already know, Professor Ignacio Agudo, a Venezuelan Biologist, researcher and environmentalist, was criminally harassed and persecuted in his country due to his campaign (together with Prof. Aldemaro Romero) against the intentional killing of dolphins for bait. With the help of human rights activists and environmentalists from Venezuela, the USA, Aruba and Brazil, Prof. Agudo, his two small daughters and their nanny were able to escape from Venezuela and reach Brazil, where he sought refugee status.
We are very pleased to inform that Prof. Agudo was officially recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Comission for Refugees. HOWEVER, we have just learned that the Brazilian government, under pressure from Venezuelan bureaucrats, is about to refuse its agreement to such recognition (thereby selling out on the rights and safety of the human beings involved due to trade interests), even AFTER the UNHCR decision upon reviewing the case. It is clear from the UN decision that Prof Agudo is a victim of undue abuse and persecution for political reasons.
FAXES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED to tell the Brazilian Minister of Justice - the final decision-making authority on the matter - that Prof. Agudo's plea for safe haven in Brazil, already supported by many Brazilian scientists and institutions, is also supported worldwide. The UNHCR received hundreds of letters from concerned friends in many countries in support of Prof. Agudo. We URGENTLY need to let the Brazilian government know that the world is still watching.
PLEASE FAX the Brazilian Minister of Justice, Dr. Nelson Jobim, at 0055-61-3226817, requesting that Brazil IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE PROFESSOR IGNACIO AGUDO AS A REFUGEE, GRANTING HIM AND HIS FAMILY RESIDENCE UNDER SUCH STATUS, in accordance with the UNHCR decision.
(Note: From the U.S.A. fax to 011-55-61-3226817)
Even if you cannot send a fax, please write the Minister at: Ministerio da Justica, Esplanada dos Ministerios Bloco T, 4o. andar, 70054-906 Brasilia/DF, Brazil.
On behalf of the Brazilians hosting and supporting Prof. Agudo and his family, I wish to express our sincere thanks for all of you who wrote to the UNHCR, and our hopes that many more people will once again help us to put an end to this long story of abuse and persecution of a man whose only crimes were courage and integrity.
Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. Brazilian Right Whale Project/International Wildlife Coalition mailto:iwcbr@ax.apc.org