Several people who have criticized a Brazilian forestry company half-owned by Stora Enso have been arrested following an interview with . According to the company, land disputes in the region have calmed down.
In 2019, ’s MOT program addressed land disputes in the Bahia region of Brazil. The disputes concern who has the right to operate on land: small farmers or the pulp company Veracel, half of which is owned by Stora Enso.
Interviewed in September 2020 in the program Geraldo Pereira and his brother was taken prisoner. Pereira told about a long and inflamed land dispute in the area. In Veracel’s view, the company owns the land and Pereira and other small farmers do not have the right to continue their operations for decades.
The brothers sat in prison for almost a year and a half.
– It was the worst nightmare possible. There were eight people in the small cell and cockroaches and rats everywhere, says Pereira.
The prosecutor’s documents obtained by are suspected by the brothers of setting up a criminal organization that has blackmailed Veracel, destroyed forest areas, laundered money and carried out drug trafficking. According to Geraldo Pereira, the accusations are fictitious.
– We were imprisoned for telling us that Veracel had illegally evicted us.
Pereira was released from pre-trial detention earlier this year. When he returned to his farms, Veracel had taken over the lands that Pereira had cultivated for decades.
– I had been evicted and planted with eucalyptus trees.
The lawyer defending the landless sat in the cell for a year and a half
On the same day the Pereira brothers were arrested, their lawyer was also arrested Mario Junior. He has represented several small farmers and landless in disputes with Veracel.
Mario Junior was also suspected of setting up a criminal organization and blackmailing Veracel, but also of spreading false news through .
He was released after a year and a half. No charges have been filed. However, the investigation is ongoing and he is no longer allowed to practice law.
The list of suspects also includes a third person interviewed by : a journalist Jean Ramalho.
He told the MOT how Veracel has managed to silence media companies. Land disputes are not reported for fear of losing advertising revenue.
Ramalho has not been imprisoned, but he is hiding, according to , to protect himself and his family.
Finnish researcher: No evidence of Veracel’s ownership
Assistant Professor at the University of Helsinki Markus Kröger is extensively acquainted with land ownership in the Bahia region and also with the case of Gerardo Pereira by visiting the site and examining the documents.
According to Kröger, they give Pereira a constitutional right to land. has seen those documents.
There is no similar evidence of Veracel’s ownership, says Kröger.
The ensuing controversy has now led to the Supreme Court banning the use of the land at Pereira’s request. Veracel cannot continue to operate until it has been evaluated by an independent expert.
However, Kröger estimates that an external expert is reluctant to assess the situation because the document on the land transaction is not actually available.
In Veracel’s view, the lower court has already overturned the ban.
Kröger last visited the site in Bahia this spring. He is also aware of the arrests. Kröger commented on the cases that led to the investigation and the veracity of the suspicions.
– This is not an isolated case. Brazilians often describe how only through the right relationships, money, or power can justice be obtained. Such events are possible in a country where the judicial system is corrupt.
Markus Kröger also criticizes Stora Enso, which owns half of Veracel:
– I do not feel the corresponding equally serious human rights violations in which Finnish companies would have participated. This is also serious because Veracel has not been able to prove on official documents that it owns all the alleged land.
Stora Enso’s comment on Kröger’s criticism is that the company is committed to respecting human rights in all its dealings around the world.
According to Stora Enso’s e-mail reply, Veracel has all the necessary documentation and the land has been legally acquired. According to the company, the documents are available from the local land registry.
“Veracel has nothing to do with imprisonment”
has requested access to documents on the ownership of the land cultivated by Gerardo Pereira from Stora Enso, Veracel and the local authorities. This has not been agreed.
asked for comment from the head of the Biomaterials division From Johanna Hagelbergwho is also a member of Veracel ‘s board of directors.
Stora Enso did not give an interview. The company communications writes in its e-mail as follows:
“To our knowledge, Veracel has nothing to do with people being imprisoned. That is why we see no reason to give an interview. ”
The company’s responsibility for the events is described as follows: “In Stora Enso’s view, the situation in the region has improved and there are currently no conflicts in the Veracel countries.”
also asked how the company evaluates its operations in countries where corruption and abuse of power are as widespread as in Brazil. The company is responsible for complying with local laws and its own guidelines and for setting an example with its sustainable business practices.
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