News on the Struggle for Land in Brazil
We hereby publish some of the latest news from the struggle for land in Brazil that we found in the newspaper A Nova Democracia.
Violent eviction of indigenous peasants
In recent days, four occupations in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, were violently evicted by the State government, affecting approximately 5,200 families. The Military Police, under the orders of Governor Wilson Lima, used force, including dogs and armored vehicles, to displace indigenous communities in the Tarumã, Mauazinho, Distrito Novo Horizonte, and BR-174 areas.
One Mura community leader was shot and is currently in hiding. The communities claim that the government cited plans to build homes under the “Minha Casa Minha Vida” program, but made no effort to enroll the existing residents in the program. Community leaders denounce the negligence of the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) and other social assistance institutions.
In a note by the League of Poor Peasants (LCP) in 2024, the organization called for armed self-defense of the land, stating that the struggle for land is just and sacred. In the note the LCP states that “there is no easy path for the conquering of land. But with a conscious forged leadership, politization, organization and combativeness of the masses and applying the line of the Agrarian Revolution one can confront and defeat latifundium and their servants to conquer the land”, The LCP urges peasants, indigenous peoples, and quilombola communities to arm themselves and defend their lands.
Peasants defeat attempt to criminalize the struggle for land
The Federal Justice Tribunal ( TJDFT) has annulled a court order to evict the Camp Renascer, a community of landless workers, from the Córrego da Coruja area. The community had been facing threats and intimidation from authorities, including the arrest of two leaders on September 29. The police had accused the leaders of “land grabbing” and “irregular land division,” but the TJDFT’s decision has discredited these claims.
The community, which has been living in the area for three years, has denied the accusations, stating that they are not selling or dividing the land, but rather fighting for a place to live. The community has also pointed out that the police operation was carried out without proper authorization and that the accusations against the leaders are based on false information.
The case is part of a larger pattern of criminalization of landless peasant movements in Brazil. Similar cases have been reported in other states, including Rondônia, where a popular lawyer and four landless workers were criminalized and accused of forming a “criminal organization.” The TJDFT’s decision has been seen as a victory for the community and a setback for the authorities’ attempts to intimidate and silence landless movements.
Families of the Tiago Campin dos Santos Area protests for better living conditions
The community of Tiago Campin dos Santos, organized by the Liga dos Camponeses Pobres (LCP), has been fighting for better living conditions and education. Despite facing violence and police abuse, the community has shown resilience and collective strength. A local school, built by the community, is now struggling due to a lack of teachers and resources. The school, which serves over 90 students, currently has only three teachers, with one on medical leave, leaving some classes without instruction.
The community has made some demands, including hiring more teachers, improving transportation, and providing basic infrastructure such as a schoolyard and teacher accommodations. However, promises made by authorities have not been fulfilled, leading to frustration and protests. The community is demanding immediate action from the public institutions to address these issues and ensure that children have access to quality education. If not addressed, the community’s struggle may intensify, and the fight for a fundamental right to education may become a long-term battle.
