Brazil: Peasants in the Rondônia-Mato Grosso Border Targeted by Latifundium
In Machadinho d’Oeste, 120 families threatened by latifundium received solidarity from Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples (Cebraspo)’s layers and university students this Saturday, as reported by A Nova Democracia. The police arrested two armed suspects with radios and ammunition who were allegedly “hunting.” The families, supported by the League of Poor Peasants (LCP), cultivate for subsistence and face violence from guaxebas (goons) and the Military Police at the Gedeon José Duque camp. The situation has been tense since the attack on the camp on March 30, which involved gunfire and left one person injured. The visit aims to ensure the safety of the families and prevent new attacks in the region.
In Porto Velho, the Military Police of Rondônia has intensified its operations in the municipalities of Buritis and Machadinho do Oeste, detaining the two men who identified themselves as “hunters” and who were carrying weapons and special equipment. According to a report from the MP on its website, the two suspects were carrying: pistols, two loaded magazines, two 12 caliber shotguns, a scoped rifle, a 9mm pistol with two loaded magazines, 60 rounds of 12 caliber ammunition, 50 rounds of .38 ammunition, 94 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 54 expanding 9mm rounds, 34 original model 9mm rounds, two Motorola radios model DP 450, and a concealed Kydex holster.
The peasants have identified Gesulino César Travagine Castro as the leader of the goons in the region, who allegedly works for a big landlord known as Negão, who claims to be the owner of the lands in the Gedeon Area, as well as the farm Silveira, which seeks to appropriate the surrounding lands. However, these lands are set for Agrarian Reform. The situation is tense, with the possibility of new attacks at any moment. The peasants continue to resist and assert that they will not abandon their lands, warning that any incident will be the responsibility of Governor Marcos Rocha and the Lula Government. Additionally, they complain about Incra for not having allocated lands to families in the region.
During Bolsonaro’s government, the encouragement of hunting led to an increase in violence and rejection towards the peasants in municipalities with camps. Since March, the situation has only worsened, with an increasing number of armed men. According to reports, the paramilitary group that entered the lands operates similarly to the “Invasão Zero” group, which terrorizes families—whether they are camped or not.
On April 1, the peasants identified eight pick ups with armed men circulating in the surrounding area. There were active military police and plainclothes men present.
Professor Marilsa Miranda de Souza, from the Research Group on History, Society, and Education in Brazil, explained the reason for the visit of students and lawyers to the camp: “In the context of the rights violations that peasants face daily, this mission is essential.” According to her, the distance between the camp and the cities “silences the violence against families constantly surrounded by police and goons.”
