Government repudiates MST action and asks for eviction of area – 04/18/2023 – Power

The government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) hardened its statements against the action of the MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers) after a group of 600 families invaded an environmental preservation area controlled by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) in Petrolina (FOOT).

The speeches repudiating the action of the landless mark a change in the attitude that the government had been adopting with the movement —one of the main obstacles in the relationship between the Lula government and the agribusiness sector.

“Unacceptable! I have always defended that the vocational worker has the right to the land. But to the land that he is entitled to!”, wrote the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, in his networks, on Monday (17).

The minister also said that Embrapa is one of the “greatest assets of our country”, and that the “agro produces sustainably” with the support of the “development work promoted by Embrapa”.

“Attacking against this is far from being an occupation, struggle or demonstration. Attacking science, against sustainable production is a crime and a crime proper to denialists”, he added.

Fávaro was chosen by Lula to head the portfolio after he carried out a work to bring the PT closer to agribusiness entrepreneurs during the presidential campaign. Despite being affiliated with the PSD, his nomination was marked in the president’s personal quota.

In line with Fávaro, the Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha, said this Tuesday (18) that he condemns acts that damage production processes.

“It’s not the best way to fight for anything. I condemn any attitude that could disrupt production. We have other better and more effective instruments for the flags that can be raised to conquer these interests,” he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock released a note on Monday criticizing the MST invasions. The folder says that the areas occupied by the landless are “property of the Brazilian government, productive and intended for the exclusive use of Embrapa Semiarid”.

According to the government, the state-owned company uses the space to develop research and generate technologies to improve the quality of life of rural populations.

“The invasion causes considerable damage to producers and family farmers in the area covered by our institution’s operations, as well as to society as a whole”, completes the note.

Padilha, however, stated that the actions of the MST do not interfere with the Planalto’s relationship with the ruralist caucus in the National Congress —despite the critical manifestations of the Parliamentary Agricultural Front against the Lula government.

“I do not feel any interference from this in the environment of the National Congress. What is a priority for the government — the fiscal framework, tax reform and MPs —, we do not have any type of interference and I have seen a very positive environment”, he added.

The leader of the Agricultural Parliamentary Front, deputy Pedro Lupion (PP-PR), told the Sheet that the change in the discourse on the MST invasions is the first positive signal that the Lula government makes for an opening in the interlocution with the ruralist caucus.

“It is obvious that the government’s position, even if timid, is positive to condemn these barbarities of invasions. Not only against Embrapa, but all of them. All that’s missing is a clearer political position from the boss, to stop the allies and put an end to these movements,” said Lupion, referring to Lula.

He also stated that, after four months of government, the Planalto only supported “negative agendas” for agribusiness. “The Government Interlocution [com a frente parlamentar] is proportional to what the government gives to the bench […] It is a first step, but it needs to show more signs that the attitude will change”, he concluded.

The MST started the so-called National Day of Struggle for Land and Agrarian Reform with the invasion of at least nine farms across the country and the headquarters of Incra (National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform) in at least seven units of the federation.

The initiatives took shape on Saturday (15), when eight farms in the state of Pernambuco were invaded, including areas in the metropolitan region of Recife, Zona da Mata, Agreste and Sertão. In a note, the MST stated that the lands are unproductive latifundia.

One of the invaded areas is that of Embrapa, in Pernambuco.

In all, 2,280 landless families have invaded areas in the state of Pernambuco since the beginning of April. The first land invaded was Engenho Cumbre, in Timbaúba (102 km from Recife), about two weeks ago. According to the MST, the area belongs to the Government of Pernambuco.

The other seven invasions in Pernambuco took place over the weekend, the biggest being in the area belonging to Embrapa. Other areas were also occupied in Timbaúba, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Tacaimbó, Caruaru, Glória do Goitá and Goiana.

Most of the land belongs to old cane fields and sugar mills. The MST argues that the lands are unproductive, belong to the public power or belong to companies that went bankrupt or have tax irregularities before the State.