Zero Invasion brings together 10,000 rural producers against the MST in Bahia

At least 10,000 landowners in Bahia are monitoring areas to protect themselves from the actions of groups such as the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST). Distributed in approximately 200 cities, they formed the Zero Invasion Movement. Bahian rural producers claim to suffer from insecurity in rural areas and the lack of action by the state government to curb invasions.

The group says it does not act armed. The idea is to put pressure on the landless with much larger groups than the invaders, who go to the invasion site as soon as the owner asks for help.

The Movimento Invasão Zero was created in Bahia, in April, in the face of an increase in the number of invasions and the lack of reaction from the local government. The latest survey by the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra), published in early April, recorded 16 invasions in three months.

The invasions were in three Suzano Papel e Celulose farms in the municipalities of Teixeira de Freitas, Mucuri and Caravelas, an office of the Companhia de Ferro Ligas da Bahia (Ferbasa), in Maracás, in addition to farms in the municipalities of Macajuba, Jacobina, Guaratinga, Jaguaquara, Juazeiro, Rafael Jambeiro, Jeremoabo and Itaberaba. The number rose to 19 at the end of April when the MST confirmed the invasion of three farms in Bahia after vacating an area belonging to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) in Pernambuco.

The landowners, led by Luiz Uaquim, a landowner from Ilhéus, are also mobilizing nationally, seeking the support of politicians in Brasília and encouraging the creation of similar groups in other states.

The Public Security Secretariat of Bahia told the report that it tries to avoid occupations and that in some cases it manages to remove the invaders based on dialogue, without a court order.

Formation of Invasão Zero was spontaneous, says leader of the movement

Luiz Uaquim, leader of Invasão Zero, points out that the planning was spontaneous, organized by WhatsApp. “We came across situations where 20 to 30 people arrived wanting to invade a property where there were only two people. We called the police and they didn’t come. We sought support from the state government and followed with no return. So we decided to organize ourselves”, said Uaquim.

The group is now organized into 16 cores that forward information to a central core, which, in turn, receives and forwards what is forwarded. The nuclei were formed according to the proximity of cities and accessibility via highways. “Any unusual movement near the properties, we are aware of it. If we identify a threat, we mobilize, notify the police and go to the location. But it’s all peaceful, there are no weapons, we put pressure on and ask the invaders to withdraw. Now, if they are 50, we are 300”, he detailed.

In one of the actions carried out by the Zero Invasion Movement, Uaquim reports that a couple, cocoa farmers in an area of ​​23 hectares, were surprised by invaders wanting two houses on the property.

“The wife asked them to move away, but when we arrived, they were there. And they say they don’t invade farms smaller than 70 hectares. We arrived, surrounded them and said ‘get out, get out, let’s go, please leave, this is not yours’. I went to the police before and the major said he wouldn’t go there. It is such an absurd thing that you come to imagine that we are in a state of exception, not a democratic state of law” reported the leader of the movement.

The report got in touch with the MST to ask its point of view on the Zero Invasion Movement, but as of this writing, there has been no response.

Formation of the group was motivated by lack of government action

Landowners claim that the government and security forces in Bahia have been remiss in the face of invasions and, as a result, they have been forced to fend for themselves, launching the Movimento Invasão Zero.

Luiz Uaquim also stated that in some occurrences, such as an invasion in the municipality of Jaguaquara, the police even went to the location, but only circumvented the situation and did not remove the invaders from the property.

“Why did the governor of Bahia [Jerônimo de Souza (PT)] is it silent? At a time like this, so tense what is happening in Bahia. In exchange for what? Why is there no invasion in Goiás? Because the governor says there isn’t one there. Why isn’t there in Mato Grosso? Why in São Paulo does Zé Rainha [líder da Frente Nacional de Lutas Campo e Cidade (FNL)] Are you under arrest?” asked the Bahian farmer.

Questioned about the statements that indicate omission and about what actions were taken against the invasions, the Secretariat of Public Security of Bahia (SSP) replied with the following note: “The SSP emphasizes that the state security forces always act seeking to prevent any type of occupation. In some cases, with dialogues mediated by military and civil police, the properties are vacated, without the need for a court order”.

Producers in Bahia prepare dossier and draft bill to deliver to Congress

The leader of the Zero Invasion Movement, Luiz Uaquim, pointed out that Bahian producers are preparing a dossier on MST actions in the state. “We are gathering indications and complaints to present in a dossier to the CPI [Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito] of the MST”, he stated. The MST’s CPI was created, but has not yet begun to function.

They are also working to present to members of the Agricultural Parliamentary Front (FPA) a draft bill to modify Law 4,504, known as the Land Statute. “The law deals with agrarian reform, but it is out of tune with Brazilian agribusiness today. It is from 1964”, pointed out Uaquim.

In addition to the MST’s CPI in the Chamber of Deputies, land invasions in Bahia also led to the creation of a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) within the scope of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Bahia (Alba). The CPI should be installed in the coming days to investigate MST invasions in the state. Initially, however, the CPI was barred by the presidency of the Assembly.

Despite having fulfilled the requirements for the installation, the president of the Assembly, state deputy Adolfo Menezes (PSD), rejected the request of deputy Leandro de Jesus (PL), based on an opinion of the Legal Prosecutor of the House. The argument used is that the CPI would involve matters of exclusive legislative competence of the Union.

Installation of CPI in Bahia was guaranteed through an injunction in court

Deputy Leandro de Jesus, however, appealed to Justice and had his request for an injunction accepted by Judge Cássio Miranda. In his decision, signed on May 4, the magistrate also determined the immediate installation of the CPI of the MST at the state level. “With this decision, we hope that no later than next Tuesday, May 16th, the CPI will be installed”, said the parliamentarian.

After the decision, the President of the Assembly said that the injunction is “undue interference” by the Judiciary in the attributions and prerogatives of the Legislature. “We are going to respond to all the questions contained in the injunction, but we are going to appeal, because I see in the measure an undue interference by the Judiciary in the attributions of the Legislative”, declared the president of the Assembly, Adolfo Menezes.

The CPI must be composed of eight members. The presidency, according to the “tradition” of the Legislative House, should remain with the proposing deputy, Leandro de Jesus. It will have 180 days to present conclusions and may be extended for an equal period.

Leandro de Jesus stated that the CPI will seek to hold those involved in the invasions accountable. “Our focus will be on investigating the perpetrators, executors and financiers of the invasions that are taking place here in Bahia. We are going to look for all those who are directly or indirectly connected with the cases to hold them accountable”, pointed out the Bahian parliamentarian.

Deputies try to create a Mixed Parliamentary Front inspired by Invasão Zero

Inspired by the initiative of the Movimento Invasão Zero, federal deputy Lieutenant-Colonel Zucco (Republicanos-RS) announced the creation of the Frente Parlamentar Mista Invasão Zero. In two days of collecting signatures, the deputy got the support of 55 parliamentarians. For the Parliamentary Front to become effective, 198 signatures of deputies and 17 of senators are required. The intention is also to encourage the creation of state fronts within the scope of the Legislative Assemblies.

For Zucco, who is quoted to chair the CPI of the MST in the Chamber, the initiative of the producers of Bahia will be strengthened with the creation of the Parliamentary Front Invasão Zero. “We are going to bring the House and Senate into this debate, on a permanent basis. Those who omit or encourage these illegal movements must be punished with all the rigor”, he highlighted.

The idea is to spread the initiative across the states as well, so that each one has its own mobilization and articulation structure. “Each state front, in turn, will mobilize society through class entities, such as rural unions, trade associations and all those who want to join in this debate. We need to show that from now on there is zero tolerance for this type of crime”, highlighted the deputy from Rio Grande do Sul.