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Posted on 07/08/2003 7:10:13 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
A festering situation that so far seems not to have attracted attention internationally is that of "land reform." Clashes between the landless people and proprietors of farms and ranches that are being invaded are bound to happen.
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The most organized group, the Cuban-tutored MST (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra—Landless Rural Workers' Movement) has invaded privately owned productive property in parts of São Paulo State, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and Pernambuco.
A giant tent city with over a thousand families has sprung up on a state highway right of way in the western part of São Paulo State in an area known as Pontal do Paranapanema. José Rainha Jr., one of the most extreme leaders who has never worked on a farm and has spent some time behind bars, has promised to have 20,000 people there eventually. Their gripe is that the government is acting too slowly in doling out land. The presence of all these people has put a strain on the small towns nearby that have limited public services. Where their food is coming from is a mystery, but it may be from the Zero Hunger programs that Lula's people talk about.
More Invasions
This potentially explosive situation has finally attracted Lula's attention. For years the MST and other Robin Hood inspired organizations supported Lula. During the presidential campaign, their aggressive actions were suspended in order to not blemish Lula's "Love and Peace" image. But before there is more bloodshed (so far just ten people have lost their lives in scuffles) a truce would help. João Pedro Stedile, the national leader of MST, has said that the invasions will continue.
In Pernambuco, the MST led by Jaime Amorim, has begun to divide up the land of Engenho Bonito, a sugar operation occupied illegally by 80 families for seven years, claiming that the government is too slow in acting. By taking the law into their own hands, they have set a dangerous precedent that leaders in São Paulo have threatened to follow.
Lula has promised to meet with the leaders of these movements July 7th in order to negotiate a plan that will satisfy them. The President has enlisted the help of his most trusted senior advisor, José Dirceu and another PT heavyweight Luiz Dulce to handle the matter as the man in charge, Agrarian Development Minister Miguel Rosseto, seems to have failed in his duties. Rosseto's appointment was controversial in the first place due to his past connections with the MST. Unless they exert a firm hand against their former supporters, the PT may fail in this first major test of their true ideological convictions.
There are no pat solutions to this problem. It is a complex situation. Lula's spokesmen have stated that they wish to continue the land distribution program within the law and the capacity of the limited financial and human resources available. Men like Rainha and Amorim are just asking for trouble as they incite poor ignorant people to disobey law and order and create ill feeling among the social classes. It behooves the government to enforce the law and not coddle these groups whose ambitions go far beyond helping poor people have their own plot of land.
Various associations of productive land owning farmers have also asked for equal treatment and an audience with Lula. It should be kept in mind that agriculture is largely responsible for Brazil's favorable trade balance. Armed guards have been hired to look after property in the Pontal region. Farmers are marching in Rio Grande do Sul to protest the illegal invasions. If law and order do not prevail and a truce is not worked out soon, unpleasant consequences may ensue.
(Excerpt) Read more at brazzil.com ...
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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In my eyes, those who embrace that wretched ideology are no longer human, but man-shaped animals. Since they advocate trampling on every human right held dear by freedom-loving individuals, they forfeit those same rights to life and liberty.
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