Greenpeace protesters unfurl a massive banner in an area of illegally cleared Amazon rainforest - the farmer's car is parked in the middle
Deep in the Amazon forest, Greenpeace protesters clashed with the man responsible for a major 'forest crime' - the destruction of a vast area of pristine forest.
After trekking to a deforested area measuring nearly 16.5 sq km, the protesters unfurled a colossal 2,500 sq metre banner with the legend '100% Crime' emblazoned upon it. Joining them were members of local communities who made the symbolic gesture of replanting a small area with native saplings.
Watch the drama unfold
You can see what happened during the protest on the Greenpeace Brazil website. The story is in Portuguese but click on the '100% Crime' image to see the pictures.The man responsible for the 'crime'? Step forward José Donizetti Pires de Oliveira, named by the Brazilian Environment Agency for clearing the huge area in the heart of Glebe Pacoval in the Amazonian state of Para. And step forward he did, confronting the protesters on the site.
With the aid of several other men de Oliveira drove back and forth across the banner, eventually destroying it. In addition, the protesters were threatened and their cars damaged.
But it was too late - the message had already gone out loud and clear.
Update: 17 March 2006
Land grabber arrested
José Donizetti Pires de Oliveira has received his come-uppance. Less than two weeks after intimidating Greenpeace protestors, on Friday 17 March 2006 he was arrested by the Brazilian authorities. The charges laid against him include the illegal deforestation of the area where the confrontation took place as well as the destruction of Brazil nut trees which are protected by law.
According to the Public Prosecutor, "the Brazilian government must not allow an individual to illegally occupy public lands and, further more, attack Brazilian citizens that are within their constitutional right to peacefully protest," describing de Oliveira as "a compulsive environmental criminal".
