Those inspired by the work of Sister Dorothy Stang, a graduate of Notre Dame de Namur University, hailed this week’s murder conviction in her 2005 slaying as a milestone in Brazilian justice.
“She was in the way (and was killed) because she was fighting for the farmers” in the rain forest, said Sister Roseanne Murphy, the Belmont university’s executive director of planned giving and author of the Stang biography, “Martyr of the Amazon.”
Vitalmiro Moura, a wealthy rancher, was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison for ordering the assassination of the 73-year-old Stang in a remote part of Brazil because she blocked him from taking over land the government gave to poor farmers.
Hundreds of activists have been killed in Brazil in the past 20 years, but only about 80 triggermen, usually paid by powerful ranchers with land claims at stake, are behind bars. Moura is the only mastermind of one of the killings to be sentenced to prison, raising hopes that Brazil can strengthen the rule of law in a region described as a modern-day “Wild West” for its illegal activities.
Murphy called Moura’s conviction a “measure of justice” for that area. Moura “wanted more land for his cattle and wanted those farmers out of the way,” Murphy said. “It was a struggle between the rich and the poor. (Stang) knew it was very tense and dangerous.”
Stang was shot to death for her efforts to help the poor and preserve the forest.
Before she was killed, she had received numerous death threats from loggers and landowners.
Stang joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1948 and took her vows in 1956. She graduated from the university with a liberal studies degree in 1964 and worked as a missionary in Brazil for nearly 40 years.
Moura was previously convicted of Stang’s murder and then acquitted in an automatic retrial. That decision was overturned last year on a technicality.
Confessed gunman Rayfran das Neves Sales is serving a 28-year sentence for Stang’s killing.
Regivaldo Galvao, another rancher who prosecutors say helped orchestrate Stang’s murder, is scheduled to go to trial later this month.
West Virginia-based musician Evan Mack, who wrote an opera based on Stang’s life that will be performed at Notre Dame on May 1, called the verdict in the Moura case a breakthrough. “That’s a big deal,” Mack said.
Mack has also been corresponding with Stang’s brother, David, who is in Brazil monitoring the court cases.
“He’s now wanting to use the verdict as momentum (to convict) the next conspirator,” Mack said.
Still, plenty of work remains to enforce law and order in the Amazon, he said.
“Justice is still not fully served,” he said. “People are still struggling down there. Activists are still dying.”
For more information about the opera, visit www.angeloftheamazon.com or call 650-508-3729.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Neil Gonzales at 650-348-4338.
