The attack by gunmen on a settlement of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) in Tremembé (SP), in the Paraíba Valley region, is another episode of violence in Brazil’s rural areas. This violence has taken on new dimensions with the recent involvement of organized crime in the illegal trade of agrarian reform lots. Data from the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) reveal a rise in such cases in recent years, including a significant increase in São Paulo.
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What Happened
The Olga Benário settlement of the MST, located in Tremembé in São Paulo’s interior, was attacked on Friday night (10/01). The crime occurred around 23:00 on Kanegae Road, resulting in two deaths and six injuries. The exact number of attackers involved has not yet been confirmed by the police.
Suspect Arrested
Antônio Martins, known as “Nero do Piseiro,” was arrested on Saturday (11/01) after being identified by witnesses as the suspected leader of the attack. The police have requested the arrest of a second suspect, who remains at large. Investigators believe the attack was orchestrated by Nero after MST leaders refused to allow the illegal sale of a plot of land in the Olga Benário settlement to criminal groups.
Land Conflicts
The year 2023 saw the highest number of land conflicts in CPT’s historical records, with 2,203 incidents reported. In São Paulo, 38 land conflicts were documented, along with 13 cases of slave labor in rural areas and five disputes over water, bringing the total to 56 cases, compared to 30 in 2022. Data for the first half of 2024 indicates that the incidence of land conflicts remains high, though slightly reduced compared to the previous year.
History
Since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1985, 302 people have lost their lives in rural massacres, according to CPT data. Of these, at least 64 were landless farmers, and 13 were settlers. Notable incidents include the 2004 attack in Felisburgo (MG), where a farm owner’s shooting spree left five dead and 12 injured. Other significant cases involve confrontations between landless farmers and police forces, such as the Corumbiara (RO) massacre in 1995 and the Eldorado dos Carajás (PA) massacre in 1996, which together claimed 28 lives.
Analysis:
The attack on the MST settlement in Tremembé exemplifies the complex and violent dynamics of Brazil’s rural conflicts, where social vulnerability intersects with criminal opportunism. The incident underscores the systemic failures in rural governance, particularly the weakening of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra) and the lack of effective measures against criminal actors exploiting agrarian reform areas. These deficiencies have created fertile ground for organized crime to infiltrate and manipulate land disputes, victimizing families and resisting coercion and financial harassment.
Historically, rural massacres have been a stark reminder of the state’s inability to protect vulnerable populations and uphold land rights. The resurgence of such violence, coupled with the illegal trade of reform lots, signals a deeper crisis. Effective governance in rural areas requires not only reinvigorating Incra’s mandate but also a coordinated effort to dismantle criminal networks profiting from these conflicts.
