Latest News in the Struggle for Land in Brazil

Featured image: Bom Futuro occupation, in the Icuí neighborhood in Ananindeua, Pará. Souce: A Nova Democracia.

We hereby share some updates on the struggle for land and ongoing Agrarian Revolution in Brazil, based on information published by A Nova Democracia (AND). Most of the information is from the “New Brazil Bulletin” issue published on July 21^st.

Piauí: Indigenous peoples report encirclement by the latifundium, wind energy companies, and railways

Indigenous peoples in the state of Piauí have reported that there has been no progress in the land demarcation and land distribution process in the state. Their territories continue to face land grabbing by the agro-exporting latifundium, mining companies, wind energy projects, pipelines, and the Railway Transnordestina.

Projects continue to be implemented, disregarding the will of the indigenous peasantry living in the state. Despite institutions such as Funai taking on a commitment in 2025 to create groups for conducting territorial studies and resolving these issues, nothing has changed since then.

Pará: Peasants from Vila Brasil defeat new eviction attempt

The peasants of Vila Brasil have achieved a victory against the eviction order from the latifundium, which seeks to evict hundreds of peasant families from the area. A new judicial decision issued on July 15^th rejected the appeal presented by the latifundium, thus stopping the new eviction order. On the other hand, the peasantry continues without legal and recognized ownership of the land, despite having been working and living on those territories for more than 20 years.

Pernambuco and Bahia: Indigenous peasants blockade highways for the right to housing

On July 20^th indigenous peasant from Pernambuco and Bahía blockaded the BR-116 and BR-428 highways. The peasants demand that their territories be included in the “My house, my life” housing program so that their right to housing is respected. The peasants announce that until they find a housing alternative, the blockades will continue.

Pará: Peasant families in Bom Futuro occupation face armed groups

AND has reported that residents of the Bom Futuro occupation, in Ananindeua’s Icuí neighborhood, have been resisting eviction attempts from the area for three months. A leader of the occupation granted an exclusive interview to the AND local correspondent. Despite being an urban land occupation, AND makes it very clear that this case is fully linked with the question of land. Large masses of peasants and workers of the land are expelled and thrown into cities due to land concentration by the latifundium, living in the suburbs and facing the lack of housing and unemployment. The residents of Icuí have decided not to wait for solutions that never come from the old Brazilian State, and have occupied unused territory, dividing slots of land and opening roads, as well as building their own homes.

Now they face attacks from goons that arrive with tractors and have the support of the repressive forces of the old Brazilian State, all to defend the interests of the big landlord that owns the previously abandoned lands at the outskirts of Ananindeua.