Brazilian unionists murdered

Brazilian unionists murdered

International protests are being called for after the brutal assassination of two Brazilian unionists on June 12. Rosa Hernandes, a leader of the struggles of the agricultural workers of the region, and Jose Luis Sandermann, vice-president of the Union of Functionaries of the University of San Carlos and a member of the leadership of the FASUBRA national body of university workers, were found murdered in their home.

Everything was in order in the house, and nothing was missing. The police have rejected robbery as a motive.

Hernandes had been elected a member of the central committee of the PSTU, a new left party, at its recent founding congress. FASUBRA had been leading a national strike until the week before the murders. The assassination is thought to have been politically motivated and committed by professional thugs.

Comrades of the murdered unionists have asked for letters condemning the assassination and calling for an immediate investigation to be sent to the Governor of Sao Paulo, Sr Luis Antonio Fiery, Palacio dos Baneirantes, Morumbi, Sao Paulo, and to the Brazilian embassy in Australia (19 Forster Cres, Yarralumla ACT 2600). Please send copies to PSTU Sao Paulo (fax: 55 11 575 6093).

From GLW issue 148