Landless peasants squat near govt buildings in Brasília
Protesters from the Landless Workers' Movement (MST) have ended a rally day on Wednesday (Feb. 12) by squatting in Praça dos Três Poderes, where the Palácio do Planalto (the presidency building) and the Supreme Court and the National Congress are located. Despite the peaceful nature intended by protesters, there were clashes with police as a group tried to break into the Congress building.
Meanwhile at Palácio do Planalto, the president's chief istrative aide Gilberto Carvalho spoke to MST representatives and was presented with a manifesto letter for agrarian reform. He called it an ordinary, worthy demonstration with no significant episodes of violence – despite protesters removing part of the palace fencing – and announced that President Dilma Rousseff will be hearing from MST representatives on Thursday (13).
After the march, the activists returned to the venue of the 6th National Conference marking 30 years of the movement foundation. The event, attended by 15,000 MST plus 250 international guests, ends on Friday (14). The agenda includes a review of the current movement state, as well as new forms of struggling for land, agrarian reform, and social changes. Further topics for discussion are the political role of the settlements and the presence of women and the youth in the movement.
* With additional reporting by André Richter and Paulo Victor Chagas.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Landless peasants squat near govt buildings in Brasília
