Protesters occupy Agrarian Development Ministry building in Brasília
The protesters chiefly want President Rousseff to act on the agenda for agrarian reform
Members of the National Rural and Urban Struggle Front (FNL) have occupied the Ministry for Agrarian Development building in Brasília from 4am on Tuesday (Feb. 2).
According to Petra Magalhães, leader of the FNL, the group chiefly wants President Dilma Rousseff to act on the agenda for agrarian reform. “We want to free up land for landless rural workers, we want [the government] to carry out land distribution. Depending on the negotiations, our protest may continue.”
She confirmed that the group has occupied the seventh and eighth floors of the ministry. “We're camping out here in front of the building and we'll stay on until the minister agrees to meet us,” said Magalhães.
On Monday (1), the building of the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), located about two kilometers from the ministry building, was also occupied. According to the Federal District Military Police, there were 500 people at today's demonstration.
Agrarian Development Minister Patrus Ananias is away for engagements in Rio Grande do Sul until Thursday (4). His office has not reported whether he will come back to Brasília to hear the protesters' demands.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Protesters occupy Agrarian Development Ministry building in Brasília
