Investigation opened over suspicions of illegal intelligence activities by mining company against social movements and human rights defenders
Geneva-Paris, May 2, 2013. The International Federation for HumanRights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in theframework of the Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders, were informed of the recent opening of aninvestigation against Vale, the second largest global mining company, forsuspected illegal intelligence activities targeting social movements and humanrights defenders through phone tapping and infiltration.
According to the information received, the Public Prosecutor recently openedan investigation on the basis of a complaint brought on March 18, 2013 by theformer Intelligence Director of Vale. The latter reported the phone tapping inNovember 2010 of a private conversation between Mr. Fernando Thompson, anofficer from Vale, and Ms. Vera Durão, a journalist working for ValorEconômico, in charge of the daily coverage of the activities of the miningcompany. Illegal spying practices were also allegedly directed against someVale employees, targeting not only phone calls, but also emails and computerfiles.
It is also alleged that the company paid a number of individuals toinfiltrate the Landless Workers' Movement (Movimiento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra – MST) aswell as the Rede Justiça nos Trilhos (JnT - a coalition of organisationsdefending the rights of the communities), and to monitor some trade unionists,environmentalists and journalists. According to the information received, suchinfiltrations have been taking place since 2008 and are reportedly stillongoing.
According to the same allegations, two agents of the BrazilianIntelligence Agency (Agência Brasileira de Inteligência - ABIN), a Statebody formerly known as the National Intelligence Service, developed under thedictatorship and essentially composed of ex-military personnel, would have beenhired by the Vale mining company to conduct these activities.
Through the publication of a written announcement published on April 22,2013[1],Vale officially admitted having monitored both the MST and JnT movements,claiming that they were harming the interests of the company, but denied theaccusations of infiltration[2].
The Observatory expresses itsdeep concern about these acts of monitoring and allegations of infiltration,and urges the Brazilian authorities to carry out a prompt, impartial andtransparent investigation into all the above-mentioned elements.
The Observatory more generally urges theauthorities of Brazil to guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders and NGOs can carryout their activities free of any hindrances, and to comply with international human rights standards andinstruments ratified by Brazil.
For more information,please contact:
· FIDH: Arthur Manet /Audrey Couprie: + 33 1 43 55 25 18
· OMCT: Delphine Reculeau:+ 41 22 809 49 39
[1] Seehttp://s.conjur.com.br/dl/nota-vale.pdf.
[2] Some of those facts had already beencovered in an FIDH report published in May 2011 and titled “How Much AreHuman Rights Worth In The Brazilian Mining And Steel Industry”. The reportoutlined a number of recommendations to the Brazilian authorities and to thecompany.