Brazil – atmosphere of war: 50 gunmen invade the Gregorio Bezerra Occupation in Ceara

We hereby publish an unofficial translation of an article published by A Nova Democracia.

Even with the climate of terror established, the families refuse to leave the big property, on which they had advanced with the occupation the day before.

It was around 2:30 am on August 26 when, being hidden, around 50 gunmen invaded the Gregorio Bezerra II Occupation, in Jaguaruana, Ceara, to expel, by aggression and acts of terrorism, the families which have retaken the Baquit agrarian latifundium on the previous day.

“In the climate of terror that was established, workers and children had the handles of their nets cut, they suffered threats and attacks, and it was very closed to be bloodshed. A 7-year-old boy fell ill and was rushed to seek medical help,” states a note released by the occupation.

The gunmen remain in the area. “They invaded at dawn and some are still here until now. You can see them in the background”, said Thalles, from the coordination of the Popular Organization (OPA), in a video sent to AND on the morning of August 26.

Even with the climate of terror established, families refuse to leave. “We are not leaving, this land is ours, the occupation is total”, they told the reporter. In the public note, the families promise that “we will face whatever is necessary” and highlight that “they are only afraid of returning to the slavery they used to be”.

Big landlord revenge

Hours before the invasion of the gunmen, the families of the Gregório Bezerra II Community, threatened since July 14 by the presence of the gunmen in the region, took an important step in their struggle by retaking “total and definitive control of the territory” of the Baquit latifundium, as they explained in a note.

In a video shared on social media, peasants enter the retaken area on motorbikes, trucks and by feet, in an atmosphere of celebration for the advance of the occupation even in the tense atmosphere of confronting gunfire. “Struggle, at the risk of dying, or continue living in slavery? We decided to struggle”, said peasant Gregório in a note from OPA. “We, peasants, without the land are not free.”

The gunfire attack, therefore, occurs as a retaliation by the big landlords against the peasant struggle.

The Baquit latifundium belongs to the family of politician Osmar Diógenes Baquit (PDT). The region’s big landlords are terrified of the occupation of that territory because they fear that the victory of the occupation, as occurred yesterday, could inspire the struggle of other peasants in the area.

Popular support

The region has the presence of far right big landlords gunmen. Despite these serious crimes, the government, linked to the Workers Party (PT) both in State management as in the City Hall management, does nothing. According to recent denounces from OPA to AND “sometimes there is even an alliance [between government and city hall] with these big landlords”.

Due to that, the families ask support for the camp: “In this moment we need solidarity, as we already achieved it”, states Thalles. A picture was published a bank account to support the peasants of the region, number 88996450959.