Brasília, 8/1/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Justice, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, speaking during a "Bom Dia Brasil" interview on TV Globo, declared that while the present government of Brazil does not see the country's grave social problems as police business, law and order will be respected. The government is acting firmly within the limits of the law to contain violence in land disputes involving property invasions led by the Landless Rural Worker Movement (MST), said the minister. "We are certainly not sleeping. On the contrary, we are closely watching this situation. But there is no intention of responding to the problem with police violence or excessive repression," said the minister.

With regard to mounting tension in the Pontal de Parapanema region, Bastos pointed out that it is not a new problem. In fact, said the minister, it is 20 years old and has not been resolved because it is very complicated. "What we cannot permit is a collapse of law and order," he stated.

According to Bastos, a surge in social demands was to be expected when the PT won the presidential election. But he warned that the law must be respected and grievances presented within legal limits. "People have to be careful and not think that just because the PT is in power that this government will be lenient. We definitely intend to work within strict statutory limitations," the minister said. (AB)