New Attacks Against Peasants in Bahia, Brazil

The newspaper A Nova Demcoracia reported on a new attack in Bahia. This area has been severely attacked during the latest weeks, and we have reported several times on harsh attacks against peasants who live in the area by the paramilitary groups such as União Agro Bahia or ‘Invasão Zero’.

On March 28, a peasant was assaulted and his arm was broken during a terrorist attack carried out by the armed goons at the service of the latifundium at the Lindaura Ferreira Lima Camp in Guaratinga, Bahia, according to the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST). The attackers arrived in several trucks, opened fire on the peasants, and threatened the families who were present.

This attack is part of a series of aggressions that have increased in southern Bahia, where groups like “União Agro Bahia” have emerged with the intention of “combating” peasants, as stated by their vice president. This type of violence follows patterns of paramilitary tactics aimed at intimidating the poor in the countryside, in a context where peasant armed self-defense has grown as a response against the big landlord violence.

Additionally, on March 20, the Civil and Military Police carried out a violent operation against Pataxó indigenous territories, invading at least five villages and carrying out an aggression to families. During this operation, there were reports of gunfire directed at women and children, and at least 25 indigenous people went missing, while another 14 were arrested. The police justified the operation based on reports of armed indigenous people, although the increase in armament among peasants is due to the need for self-defense against violence.

Despite the repression against peasants and indigenous people, the same police have not conducted significant operations against landowners and their paramilitary groups, which often include members of the police forces.