Solidarity with the MST

21 January 2025
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement

Solidarity with the MST

The movement of the landless in Brazil, the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), has suffered a violent attack. On 10 January the Olga Benário occupation in Tremembé, São Paulo was attacked by armed men who entered the occupation in cars and motorcycles. They shot indiscriminately at residents, leaving two people dead and six people injured, among them children and elderly people.

The comrades who have fallen in the struggle are Valdir Nascimento and Gleison Barbosa.

Valdir Nascimento, known as “Valdirzão,” was a prominent figure in the struggle for agroecology and a staunch defender of occupied land. A committed member of MST since 1993, he dedicated his life to fighting illegal land sales and strengthening the peasant movement in the Paraíba Valley.

Gleison Barbosa, known as “Guegue,” was the son of a family living on the occupation. Although he lived in São Paulo, his dedication to the occupation led him to actively contribute to community efforts.

Denis Carvalho remains in an ICU ward after undergoing surgery to remove shrapnel from his head. His condition is critical.

Lula da Silva’s Workers’ Party government moved quickly against the attack and the following day Antonio Martins Filho, known as ‘Nero do Piseiro,’ was arrested and charged with leading the attack. An arrest warrant has been issued for Ítalo Rodrigues da Silva, who is currently at large. This is in striking contrast to our own government that often fails to act against assassins even when there is clear evidence of their guilt.

Like our occupations on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, the Olga Benário occupation faces intense competition from real estate speculation due to its location in the Paraíba Valley region where land is very expensive and ownership of land is lucrative.

Gilmar Mauro, from the MST national leadership, explained that “This is a region with some settlements very close to urban areas and where there is intense pressure from real estate speculation, in conjunction with local politicians and militias, to enter our territories and take over some lots. This group went there to annihilate them and our people were resisting because they [real estate speculators] wanted to take over a lot.”

Our movement has had a close relationship with the MST for many years. Many of our leaders have participated in classes at the Florestan Fernandes National School in Guararema near São Paulo. We have hosted comrades from the MST in South Africa, and our movements are in constant communication. The MST has always offered solidarity to us when we are under attack.

All over the world, popular movements that work to build the political power of the oppressed face repression. That repression often intensifies when land is occupied, decommodified, and run on the basis of democratic self-management. Struggles by the oppressed to build socialism from below are often met with extreme violence.

The MST are our very close comrades in the struggle to build a global movement of movements, and we offer them our full solidarity as they come to terms with this attack on the Olga Benário occupation.

The struggle is always global, and an injury to one is always an injury to all.

Contact:

Thapelo Mohapi 084 576 5117
Mqapheli Bonono 073 067 3274
Snenhlanhla Mncanyana 073 832 3331