The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (Mdhc) announced that it will offer assistance and protection to the leaders and other residents of the Olga Benário Settlement, of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST).
Located in Tremembé (SP), in the Paraíba Valley, approximately 140 kilometers from the capital of São Paulo, the settlement was attacked by armed men on Friday night (10). According to the MST, two settlers were shot dead and at least six others were injured, some seriously.
“The MDHC, through the Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Communicators and Environmentalists, is seeking more information about the events that occurred and will offer assistance to the leaders of the settlement and its community”, informed the ministry, in a statement released in the afternoon this Saturday (11).
By classifying the episode as a “serious attack against the MST settlement”, the ministry highlights the urgent need to strengthen policies to protect human rights defenders that integrate the federal and state spheres, the Justice and Public Security systems and protection networks, defining responsibilities and the type of dynamics and relationships to guarantee the protection of human rights defenders.
Despite the tension resulting from the dispute over land in the region, none of the leaders of the Olga Benário Settlement, in Tremembé, are registered with the Protection Program for Human Rights Defenders, Communicators and Environmentalists. “For this reason, this Ministry reinforces the importance of risk situations being communicated to the federal government program, which is responsible for acting in an articulated manner to prevent and respond to threats and conflicts that could result in violence or rights violations,” added the ministry. , which promises to strengthen, even in 2025, practices to protect communities, associations, groups, organizations, collectives and social movements.
“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”, declared Minister Macaé Evaristo, in the note.
Civil Police
In a statement, the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat informed that the Civil Police is already investigating the incident, seeking to clarify the facts, adding that the six injured people are between 18 and 49 years old and were taken to the Vale do Regional Hospital. Paraíba – Sociedade Beneficente São Camilo, in Taubaté or to the municipal Emergency Room.
“Victims’ statements indicated that suspects in cars and motorcycles had fired shots. A man was approached at the scene and charged with illegal possession of a weapon. The case was registered as murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm permitted for use on duty at the Taubaté Sectional Police Station”, revealed the São Paulo secretariat.
