Brazil: Absence of agrarian reform leads to more murders in Brazil.

In the municipality of Anapu, an activist of the CPT (pastoral land commission), sister Dorothy Stang, and seven more rural workers have been murdered in 2005 because of their fighting for an agrarian reform. 90% of Anapu´s territory is uninhabited land, i.e., it  belongs to the State, but the illegal occupation of the land (grilagem) is the main reason for land conflicts. Parts of this land were destined to the implementation of the PDS – project of sustainable development- for agrarian reform. Nevertheless, due to the absence of monitoring by the state, many large farmers (grileiros) occupy these areas and expel the settled families.

Considering these situations of murder, violence, impunity and the resulting violation of human rights, the entities of the national forum of the agrarian reform decided to start a national and international campaign. It is very important to put pressure on the Brazilian authorities to take urgent measures to respect, protect and guarantee the workers´ and the land workers´ rights in Brazil. Please send letters to the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva together with copies to the minister who is responsible for reporting, Arnaldo Esteves Lima. Also keep informed the trade union of the rural workers of Anapu.