Seven MST members are accused of violent actions

The Public Ministry of Paraná indicted seven members of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) for crimes of criminal association, kidnapping, illegal restraint, bodily harm, threat, resistance, disobedience and qualified damage. Members of the movement participated in acts that blocked the PR 170 highway, in Guarapuava, Paraná, on October 19th. Two of the MST members, considered the group’s leaders, were preventively arrested two days later and have remained in detention since then.

According to the complaint, the MST militants allegedly left the Nova Geração settlement. The three military police officers who went to the location to comply with a court order to clear the road claimed to have been received with violence. The protesters allegedly refused to comply with the court’s order and, according to the Public Ministry, the police officers were deprived of their freedom, in addition to suffering illegal harassment, threats and bodily harm.