The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship stated that it will reinforce the protection of social movements after the attack on the Olga Benário settlement of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in Tremembé, in the interior of São Paulo.
“The serious attack against the MST settlement and the murder of two leaders adds to previous warnings about the urgency of strengthening policies to protect human rights defenders that integrate the federal and state spheres, the Justice and Security systems Public and protection networks, defining responsibilities and the type of dynamics and relationships to guarantee the protection of human rights defenders”, said the ministry in a note published this Saturday (11).
“In 2025, MDHC will reinforce its actions to strengthen collective practices to protect communities, associations, groups, organizations, collectives and civil society movements that provide popular protection for these agents”, he adds.
The ministry also states that it will offer assistance to the leaders of the attacked settlement. Last Friday night (10), three people were killed. A man suspected of coordinating the crime was arrested.
The ministry advises that risk situations be communicated by the movements to the federal government, so that prevention measures can be taken.
“We have a state duty to provide full protection to human rights defenders. In this sense, we will activate the State bodies responsible for resolving agrarian conflicts and public security to act in a joint and coordinated manner”, says Minister Macaé Evaristo.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security ordered the Federal Police (PF) to monitor the case.
In the letter sent to the PF, the acting minister, Manoel Carlos de Almeida Neto, cites the violation of human rights. According to the ministry, a PF team, with agents, an expert and a papilloscopist, was sent to the location.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) sent the Minister of Agrarian Development, Paulo Teixeira, to monitor the investigations.
The attack
The three dead in Tremembé were identified as Gleison Barbosa, aged 28, Denis Carvalho, aged 29 and Valdir Nascimento, aged 53, died. Five other people were injured and are hospitalized.
According to the MST, 10 criminals entered the Olga Benário Settlement with five cars and two motorcycles, shooting at the settlers.
In a statement, the MST states that “the place faces an intense dispute with real estate speculation aimed at leisure tourism, due to its strategic location in the Vale do Paraíba region”. The movement also reported that settled families suffer constant threats, even after complaints to the authorities.
