Lourenço Canuto Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – Every year, the Landless Rural Worker Movement (“MST”) remembers the Massacre of Eldorado de Carajás, where 19 landless rural workers were killed in April 1996, by staging what is called "Red April." Besides commemorating the Eldorado de Carajá massacre, the organization attempts to draw attention to its struggle for land reform in Brazil. This week Red April began in earnest with the MST, brandishing hoes and its trademark red flags, invading more than 70 large farms in 17 states.

According to the MST, so far this month 17,000 people invaded farms. The organization also says that another 100,000 landless rural workers are camped out on properties owned by the government or individuals around the country.

Along with invasions of farmland, members of the MST have also held protest demonstrations at headquarters of the Land Reform Settlement Institute (“INCRA”) in various cities, blocking roads, building campsites and holding public hearings on land reform.

Last week, members of the MST met with the secretary-general of the presidency, minister Gilberto Carvalho, who promised to respond to a list of grievances by May 2. Landless rural workers also met with the ministers of Agrarian Development, Education, Social Development and Hunger Combat, as well as managers at the INCRA.

Among MST demands are changes in the government budget so that funds can be used for land reform, education in the countryside and the renegotiation of MST settler debts. They also want to discuss the use of public land for settlement and the automatic confiscation of property that landowners use for the practice of slave-type labor. The MST says its priority is education in the countryside (“Programa Nacional de Educação na Reforma Agrária”) complaining that 24,000 rural schools have been shut down recently.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - MST ocupa grandes propriedades em 17 estados