Currently released so far... 4040 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
AR
ASEC
AEMR
AORC
AJ
AMGT
ACOA
AEC
AO
AE
AU
AFIN
AX
AMED
ADCO
AG
AODE
APER
AFFAIRS
AC
AS
AM
AL
ASIG
ABLD
ABUD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
AGMT
ATRN
CO
CH
COUNTER
CDG
CI
CU
CVIS
CIS
CA
CBW
CF
CLINTON
CM
CASC
CMGT
CN
CE
CJAN
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CG
CS
CD
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CV
CAN
ECON
ETTC
ELN
EPET
ENRG
EFIN
EAID
EINV
EG
EWWT
ELAB
EUN
EU
EAIR
ETRD
ECPS
ER
EINT
EIND
EAGR
EMIN
ELTN
EFIS
EI
EN
ES
EC
EXTERNAL
ECIN
EINVETC
ENVR
ENIV
EZ
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ECA
ET
ESA
ENERG
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
IC
IR
IS
IAEA
IZ
IT
ITPHUM
IV
IPR
IWC
IQ
IN
IO
ID
ICTY
ISRAELI
IRAQI
IIP
ICRC
ICAO
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INRB
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
ITALY
ITALIAN
INTERPOL
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
KNNP
KDEM
KIRF
KWMN
KPAL
KPAO
KGHG
KN
KS
KJUS
KDRG
KSCA
KIPR
KHLS
KGIC
KRAD
KCRM
KCOR
KE
KSPR
KG
KZ
KTFN
KISL
KTIA
KHIV
KWBG
KACT
KPRP
KU
KAWC
KOLY
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KV
KMDR
KPKO
KTDB
KMRS
KFRD
KTIP
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KMCA
KGIT
KSTC
KUNR
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KVPR
KOMC
KAWK
KO
KTER
KSUM
KHUM
KRFD
KBIO
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KMPI
KHDP
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KGCC
KPIN
KNUC
KPLS
KIRC
KCOM
KDEV
MOPS
MX
MNUC
MEPP
MARR
MTCRE
MK
MTRE
MASS
MU
MCAP
ML
MO
MP
MA
MY
MIL
MDC
MTCR
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MR
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASC
MASSMNUC
MPOS
MZ
MOPPS
MAPP
MG
MCC
OREP
ODIP
OTRA
OVIP
OSCE
OPRC
OAS
OFDP
OIIP
OPIC
OPDC
OEXC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OTR
OVP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
PGOV
PREL
PTER
PINR
PINS
PARM
PHUM
PARMS
PREF
PBTS
PK
PHSA
PROP
PE
PO
PA
PM
PMIL
PL
PTERE
POL
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PGOVE
POLINT
PRAM
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PGOF
SMIG
SNAR
SOCI
SENV
SO
SP
SW
SHUM
SR
SCUL
SY
SA
SF
SZ
SU
SL
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
STEINBERG
SN
SG
UK
UNGA
UP
UNSC
UZ
UN
UY
UE
UNESCO
UAE
UNO
UNEP
UG
US
USTR
UNHCR
UNMIK
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
USUN
USEU
UV
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05BRASILIA369, Murder of AmCit Dorothy Mae Stang
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05BRASILIA369.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05BRASILIA369 | 2005-02-14 17:05 | 2010-12-15 07:07 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Brasilia |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000369
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
CA/OCS/ACS, WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PGOV PREL BR TIP
SUBJECT: Murder of AmCit Dorothy Mae Stang
REF: Henshaw/OP Center Telcons, 12 Feb.
¶1. (U) This cable is Sensitive But Unclassified.
¶2. (U) Summary. US citizen and Catholic nun Dorothy Mae Stang was murdered in the northern Brazilian state of Para February 12. She was an advocate for the landless and had been involved in land disputes with powerful landlords. Brazilian state and federal government reactions have been forceful; three suspects have been named. The Embassy has spoken with next-of-kin. End Summary.
¶3. (U) US citizen Dorothy Mae Stang was shot to death in the interior of the Brazilian state of Para at 7:30 a.m. (GMT -3) on Saturday, February 12. Para, at the mouth of the Amazon, has a history of land disputes and lawlessness. The murder took place outside the town of Anapu, in the rural center of the state. She was killed by six shots (three to the head) by two gunmen on a rural roadside while waiting to meet with local farmers.
¶4. (U) Stang, a 74-year old Catholic nun, had lived in Brazil for thirty years and was well known as an activist for agrarian reform. She was a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Stang had received a number of death threats in recent years; earlier in the week of her death, she had met with federal human rights authorities to complain of recent threats. The death threats reportedly came from large landowners involved in the cattle and timber industries. Stang worked with landless peasants seeking land; the large landowners that opposed her efforts for the most part do not/not own their land legally, rather they maintain control by force. Stang supported efforts of the federal governments National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform, which seeks to place the landless on unused and underutilized land.
¶5. (U) Sister Dorothy, as she was known in Para, became a Brazilian citizen in 2003 and was named an honorary citizen of Para state in December 2004 by the states assembly, in recognition of her efforts to create sustainable development projects in the Amazon region. She had repeatedly stated that she believed her status as a nun would protect her against attacks.
¶6. (U) Brazils environment minister, Marina Silva (herself a follower of slain environmentalist Chico Mendes), who was in Para at the time, immediately visited the site and strongly condemned the murder. President Lula ordered the justice minister to deploy the federal police to work along side Para state police during the investigation. Lula also sent Nilmario Miranda, his human rights Secretary, to Para to follow events. Various Para state officials, including the governor, also condemned the crime.
¶7. (U) Police are searching for three suspects; they have not released their names. Two are the gunmen, who were identified by witnesses of the murder. A third is a rancher suspected of organizing the killing. Later on February 12, Adalberto Xavier Leal, a ranch hand, was shot to death in Anapu. Leal worked for landowner Dinair Feijo Cunha; the Catholic Churchs Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) had accused Lean and Cunha of being behind Dorothy Stangs murder. (Note: We do not know if either Leal or Cunha were the same individuals being sought by the police.)
¶8. (U) Dorothy Stangs body was taken to Belem, the capital of Para, for an autopsy on February 13. Following a mass in her honor, Stangs body was flown back to Anapu on February 14 for burial.
¶9. (U) Both the Ambassador and Consul General spoke with Stangs brother, David Stang (719-487-1295) to offer our condolences. CG also spoke with Stangs sister, Barbara Richardson (937-275-6649). David Stang confirmed the familys support of the orders decision to bury his sister in Anapu, adding that it was his sisters wish to be buried there. Our consular agent in Belem attended the autopsy and accompanied the body back to Anapu.
¶10. (SBU) LEGATT has offered its assistance to federal officials at the working level, but believes that they have the case well in hand, at least at this stage. LEGATT expertise may be needed as the case progresses, e.g., with ballistics.
¶11. (U) The Ambassador released the following statement February 14: Begin Text: I would like to express publicly what I have conveyed privately to Sister Dorothy Stang's family in the United States. I am saddened and appalled [and saddened] by this brutal and senseless killing. Sister Stang was a courageous individual who loved the people of Brazil and and who dedicated her life to serving [others] those less fortunate. I share the outrage over her tragic loss with her family, her order, and her friends and colleagues in Brazil who have worked with her over many years. Sister Stang was well known to many at the Embassy. She had received U.S. government support through USAID for her work on women's issues and in defense of traditional populations in the Amazon. The United States Embassy is following the investigation closely, and is encouraged by the swift reaction of both the Brazilian government and the Federal Police. We are confident that there will be a full and thorough investigation into this murder, and that those responsible will be brought to justice. End Text.
¶12. (SBU) Comment: We are encouraged by the initial reaction of state and federal officials and believe it likely that arrests will be made. However, the courts are the weak link in the Brazilian criminal; once there it will take a good deal of pressure to keep the case moving. We plan to follow it closely.
Danilovich