leaders of the invasions in BA are PT deputy employees

Two of the main names mentioned by former members of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) as possible leaders in property invasions in southern Bahia are employees of Deputy Valmir Assunção (PT-BA). The complaint was made during the meeting of the MST’s CPI, this Tuesday (8), which heard the testimony of three people who reported threats, aggressions and exposed the operation of MST camps.

The two men mentioned – Lucineia Durães do Rosario and Oronildo Loures Costa – are on the list of personnel in deputy Valmir Assunção’s office. According to the records kept by the Chamber of Deputies, Lucineia has been in the office since November 2016, while Loures has been part of the team since April of the same year. Deputy Valmir Assunção confirmed that the two are employees of his office, but did not comment on the accusations made during the MST’s CPI.

According to former MST members, heard by the CPI this Tuesday, they were involved in the demonstrations and were responsible for violent actions against members of the movement. “They are national leaders of the MST in the state of Bahia. Everything comes out with their command and the political direction”, said Elivaldo Costa, president of the Rosa do Prado Settlement Project, who was also a member of the MST for about 9 years.

In testimony to the CPI, Vanuza Santos de Souza, another former member of the MST, reported numerous threats and an aggression she suffered in April 2021, along with her 8 and 18-year-old children, when she was expelled from her home, which was vandalized and partially destroyed.

Vanuza also said that Deputy Valmir Assunção was often seen at the camp she was part of, Acampamento Fábio Henrique (also called “São João”), located in the municipality of Prado, Bahia. According to her, the parliamentarian would have “delivered” her a lot in 2016. “I built my house there and then I was expelled for disagreeing with some actions of the movement I served for almost 12 years”, said Vanuza in testimony to the MST’s CPI.

The report also contacted the MST, but received no response.