Brasília, 22/4/2004(Agência Brasil) - Representatives of rural workers and the National Confederation of Workers in Agriculture (Contag) met with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Palácio do Planalto and gave him a list of their grievances. The meeting came as rural social movements celebrated their annual "Cry For Land" (Grito da Terra) which has called on the government to expropriate land for land reform, technical assistance for family farming and increases in the minimum wage. It also came during an upsurge in invasions of private property.

The president of Contag, Manoel dos Santos, declaring that invading private property is not the way to a short-term solution for the problems of rural workers, called for more consistent action by the government in settling families in the countryside. "What we need is government policy that is responsive to the demands of rural workers. That would make invasions unnecessary. The fact that the invasions are occurring is a sign that more has to be done and done more quickly," he said.

Santos went on to say that the invasions will stop when the government finds ways to benefit rural workers. "Rural workers are not camped out around the country because it is fun. The Contag wants to see things happening. That is why we are here: to see our proposals put into practice in the form of policy. If this government cannot make progress in this area, who can?" asked Santos.

The visit by the Contag president came exactly one day after president Lula called for a reduction of property invasions. Santos said he did not see any signs of a threat in what Lula said because the government is in favor of land reform. "We are here for talks. We elected this government for this: so we could negotiate with it. We do not have any obligation to put a halt to our struggle in favor of our people. The government governs, social movements struggle. That is what we are doing. If we cannot make progress with this government, when are we supposed to make progress?" Santos asked.

Translator: Allen Bennett