Urgent Action - Support MST!

We call on you with an urgent request to support the Landless Worker’s Movement (MST in Portuguese) and Via Campesina in Brazil. As reported by Terra de Direitos, MST and Via Campesina, we understand that on October 21, 2007 Mr. Mota de Oliveira of the MST was shot dead at point-blank range two times in the chest by armed men while joining a protest against the operations of Swiss biotech firm Syngenta. According to reports, several other protesters were severely injured. We also understand that the situation at the site remains extremely tense. The landless workers camped in the region—especially some MST leaders who were chased by the gunmen during the attack—remain in danger and are in need of immediate protection.

We have sent a letter of support on behalf of ESCR-Net, calling on the government to protect the lives and respect the human rights of members of MST and their partners. Due to the urgency and seriousness of this situation, we would ask you to consider sending a separate letter from your own organization. You are welcome to use and revise the text from the ESCR-Net letter below in English, Spanish, and French; the appropriate addresses are also included at the end of the ESCR-Net letter.  If you decide to send a letter, we would be eager to receive a copy and to post it on our website, as well as forwarding it to MST.

Finally, below you will find a press release from Terra de Direitos, which should provide helpful background information. If you have further questions or if you would like to be in direct contact with Terra de Direitos, we encourage you to write to Maura Prendiville at maura.prendiville@gmail.com.

Thank you for urgently considering and ideally supporting this solidarity action.