Invasion in Bahia is an isolated case, says MST coordinator – 02/03/2023 – Panel

National coordinator of the MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers), João Paulo Rodrigues says that the invasions of three Suzano Celulose farms, in the extreme south of Bahia, are exclusively related to a local issue and are not part of a broader resumption of group actions.

“It is an isolated action, in the extreme south of Bahia, of an agreement not fulfilled by Suzano. It is not a general action, a resumption of struggles by the MST. It was an agreement with Fibria, which Suzano bought and does not want to fulfill the agreements That’s it, there’s nothing new, big actions”, says Rodrigues.

According to the movement, the action is intended to make Suzano comply with the agreement signed in 2011, which would involve the assignment of land to settle 600 families.

By note, Suzano reported that the properties were damaged by members of the movement. In addition to violating the right to private property, the acts would be subject to the adoption of judicial measures for repossession, says the statement.

On Tuesday (28), the first instance of Justice in Bahia ordered the eviction of land in Mucuri, in the interior of Bahia, 903 km from Salvador.

The MST has complained about the Lula government’s slowness with regard to agrarian issues, as the Panel has shown. The main criticism is related to the delay in choosing the directors and superintendents of Incra, the authority responsible for moving forward with issues related to agrarian reform in Brazil.

On Monday (27th), the federal government appointed agronomist César Aldrighi in charge of Incra. Rose Rodrigues, former Secretary of Agriculture of Sergipe, should occupy a directorate at Incra. There was an expectation in the MST that she would lead the autarchy, which ended up not being confirmed.

A national mobilization for land is scheduled for April, with the setting up of camps in symbolic areas and marches. The MST hopes that the government will present an emergency plan for the area by then. Otherwise, it should initiate a broader process of occupations.

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