According to a report by the “Comissao Pastoral da Terra “(CPT), they had been found on the road that passes in between the estates grilled by two landlords. The local police just arrived at nightfall at the place of crime to take further actions.The Gleba Gamma is a public area of about 16 thousand hectares actually belonging to the Federal Union, denominated to be turned into a settlement for 336 families (INCRA/SR-13/N° 114, 18.12.2002). On the 2nd of June of 2003, about 350 families had mounted the “Renascer Encampment”.
However, the area is currently illegally “grilled” by more than 40 farmers. Six of them, withhold alone approximately 12 thousand hectares of this area. These Landlords created their own association and count on strong support by local authorities and state delegates.

The situation of the families the landless workers is critical

The landless workers constantly suffer under serious threats and violent acts practised by the farmers and their private militias consisting of “guachebas” (gunmen) and policemen which regularly patrol the area and control the access by road to the area.

These deaths are the most recent incidents in a long and frequent row of violence and suppression practiced by the landlords and their gunmen. Aggravated battery and threats take place, leading so far that the landless workers where beaten up with barb wire. Families are displaced and their belongings destroyed. Supporters like the local Mayor or the representative of the CPT in the region suffer under ongoing threats of death. Up to now six people homicides took place in this area due to this conflict.

The last time the workers managed to apprehend a weapon, whose identification indicated to be of a policeman.

Recently a federal Commission for Human Rights Defenders visited the area and confirmed these facts urging especially the regional court system and other local authorities to immediate actions necessary to solve this crucial and grave situation.

Autor/Fonte:Terra de Direitos