Statement of Solidarity from the MST in Brazil

Stop the political persecution of Abahlali baseMjondolo activists and leaders

The Landless Workers Movement – MST from Brazil – stands in full solidarity and support with the legitimate struggle of Abahlali baseMjondolo for land, housing, and dignity.

We celebrate with our comrades of AbM the freedom of comrades Lindokuhle Mnguni, Landu Tshazi and Ayanda Ngila after more than six months detained on false accusations and trumped up charges.

But we know that the persecution and the extrajudicial violence imposed upon the membership and leaders of AbM has not ended. On 1 October, comrades Mqapheli George Bonono, Maphiwe Gasela and Siniko Miya will appear, also on false and trumped up charges.

We have worked together with Abahlali baseMjondolo for many years. We have met many of AbM activists personally, in our National Political Education School, through our Internationalist Brigade Samora Machel and through many different joint struggles and activities with he International People’s Assembly.

MST and AbM share the same struggles and principles: the fight for full emancipation of humanity making the principles of dignity, peace, and solidarity a constitutive practice in our daily work.

From our settlements and camps we continue to resist, fight, produce and organize, for, together with AbM and the peoples in struggle around the world, build a better world. A world where land is for those who live and work on it; where life will not be a merchandise; where property or profit will not come before the life of any human being; where there will be no exploited or explorer; where the power will be in the hands of the people; where all people will be truly free and emancipated.

In struggle and solidarity

MST International Relations Collective São Paulo, September 29, 2021