From the MST Page
On the afternoon of last Tuesday (30/7), around five police vehicles and motorcycles from the Maranhão Military Police accompanied a farmer to the Salete Moreno Camp, an occupation with around 100 families in the municipality of Itinga, and, amidst physical aggression, three people were arrested.
In images recorded with cell phones, it is possible to see police officers wearing masks and one of them physically assaulting one of the state’s human rights defenders, included in the protection service for life. The action took place without a judicial order and is supported by a ruralist group.
During this Wednesday (31/7), audio announcements circulating on social media announced the call for ruralists from the region to intimidate families and announced that the PM would support the forced eviction.
“The police will enter, we have already requested the buses. The police will enter with the buses to make the removal and the helicopters are already in the region, flying over the farm. Then, people, let’s unite,” informs one of the audios.
The area was occupied about a week ago, during the Jornada de Lutas por Alimentos Saudáveis e pela Reforma Agrária and includes the União and Amaralina farms, which, according to a survey, belong to the Union and, in dialogue with the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra), should be destined for agrarian reform.
The State Secretariat for Human Rights and Popular Participation (Sedihpop) is following the case, and the Landless Workers’ Movement in the state demands urgent measures from the authorities and effective actions against the violence practiced against the families of rural workers and workers, as well as the immediate release of the detained militants.
*Edited by Carlos Silva
