Despite that the Brazilian Federal Court (STF) suspended the eviction of the Tiago dos Santos camp for the time being by temporary injunction on the afternoon of October 21, the eviction was continued by the security forces of the old Brazilian state the very next night.
In this regard, we publish an unofficial translation of an article by the newspaper "A Nova Democracia".
Tiago dos Santos: Eviction action continued even after STF ordered suspension
Police troops carry out arbitrary siege and eviction even in the face of suspension. Photo: AND Database
The eviction of the peasant families from Área Tiago Campin dos Santos, in Nova Mutum Paraná, RO, continued during the night of October 21 and early morning October 22.
The Brazilian Center of Solidarity to the Peoples (Cebraspo) denounces that the Military Police of Rondonia (PM-RO) with the help of the National Public Security Force continues the cowardly operation of siege and eviction using aggression, torture and all the repressive apparatus at their disposal.
The entity also reports that there was reluctance on the part of the judge on duty, Ursula Gonçalves Theodoro de Faria Souza, to dispatch the decision of Minister Carmém Lúcia in the process, even hours after having been informed of the injunction of the STF.
The peasants expelled from their homes are in makeshift lodging at the Santa Julia School. In this place the water available is unfit for consumption, dirty and muddy, according to the peasants. The masses also report that the people who arrived on Thursday night are sleeping on the floor and without water.
In a video recorded by residents of the Tiago Campin dos Santos Area, organized in the lodging, a peasant woman, who was asked what time the families had been without food after being taken over by the police, denounced: "Since Wednesday morning, we came to eat today that is Thursday night". Another worker also said: "Meanwhile they are eating our crops, they roasted our pigs, killing the animals", referring to the fact that the more than 3 thousand police officers are stealing and destroying the crops and animals that are the fruit of the peasants' efforts.
The evicted workers also report: "They destroyed our house, they didn't bring our things; everything is in the middle of the road, the stuff. I was going to bring, but I didn't bring anything. The animals are all in the middle of the road.
The reactionary police troops are reluctant to abide by the decision. The general commander of the Military Police of Rondônia, Colonel Alexandre Almeida, said in a press conference on the morning of 10/22, that they will continue with the mega-war operation against the peasants and that the suspension refers to only one of the farms that would be the target of the operation.
The police also stated that the former NorBrasil farm, today Área Tiago Campin dos Santos, was the main target of Operation "Nova Mutum".
The colonel, disguisedly, even in the face of numerous complaints and records of the unhealthy conditions and hunger to which the peasants are being subjected, also stated: "Those people who have nowhere to go are taken to a place known as 'Vila da Penha', where they stay in a hostel, with the right to food, until they can go to a more suitable place".
According to information reported by the PM commander himself, the daily amount spent to maintain the operation is equivalent to R$ 1 million per day and should be extended.
The eviction continues, in a new form, in spite of the decision of a STF (Federal Supreme Court) minister, who considers the eviction order ("reintegração de posse") suspended. According to complaints received by the editorial staff of AND, in addition to the troops, there is a uniformed "support team" on the site, assisted by several trucks, which has continued with the removal of the families. According to the peasants, this team is composed of employees of the landowners.
Farmers accuse the "support team" prosecuting the illegal eviction of being employees of the Latifundium. Photo: AND database
Displaced families organize communal meals in improvised shelters, even when shortages occur. Photo: AND database
Displaced families organize communal meals in improvised shelters, even when shortages occur. Photo: AND database
At least 400 children currently live in the area of Tiago Campin dos Santos. Photo: AND database
The vocal and proud peasants remain mobilized and organized even in the midst of displacement. Photo: AND database
