It is the Landless Movement belief that the large
landed estate (latifúndio) and the neoliberal model are the causes
of hunger, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and
lack of development in rural areas in Brazil.

On November 6, the MST (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra—Landless Rural Workers Movement ) made public the letter it addressed to President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, planned for delivery on the following day. The MST's main demand is for the non-renewal of the Medidas Provisórias (Provisional Measures) signed by president Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

For two years, these measures have suspended the formal process of expropriating the lands claimed and taken over by the movement. For the leaders of the MST, the measures are authoritarian and meant to prevent workers from using their main political instrument, i.e. occupying uncultivated land. "The occupation of unproductive land is legitimate and will be carried out in the upcoming year if and when necessary," asserted João Paulo Rodrigues, an MST coordinator.

THE LETTER:

"The Landless Workers Movement has turned to the Brazilian people and President Lula da Silva to speak of our country's situation and the struggle for agrarian reform. We are driven by the hope and confidence that another Brazil is possible, one in which women, men, children, the youth and elderly may live a dignified and fulfilling life.

1- Brazil has experienced eight years of a neoliberal economic model implemented by the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. This model has only increased people's suffering and brought severe hardship to those living in rural areas afflicted by ever-increasing poverty, inequality, mass exodus, and lack of work and land.

2- The people of Brazil have said `No' to this economic and agricultural model. Brazilians have voted massively for change. They have elected President Lula da Silva. It is a victory for the Brazilian people, a defeat for the elite and their program.

3- The MST has fought against this model. This is why we have been persecuted and affronted. We are paying a high price with massacres, prison terms, systematic lies and the utter disregard of seated families. We have been committed to every electoral campaign since 1989 for change to occur. Now we feel proud and victorious for having elected President Lula.

4- The large landed estate (latifúndio) and neoliberal model are the causes of hunger, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and lack of development in rural areas.

5- We are sure that it is possible to defeat the large landed estate by organizing the people and through the new government's political will. For us, the enemy is the large landed estate. And Lula's government will play a fundamental role to democratize land ownership in Brazil.

6- We need to build a new agricultural model that gives priority to the internal market, food production and income redistribution. To achieve this it is necessary to value family-based and cooperative-style agriculture, and make agro-business viable and decentralized. The State must take on its role in agriculture and ensure the right of farmers to produce their own seed and develop techniques that are appropriate to the environment and to food quality.

7- Public education has to be guaranteed to the entire rural population as a way of conquering dignity and development.

8- Our role as a social movement is to continue organizing people from the countryside, bringing them to awareness of their rights and mobilizing them to fight for change. We shall carry on the necessary autonomy from the State, but we shall contribute in every which way possible to a new government so as to bring about the agrarian reform we have dreamt of for so long.

9- We are taking this opportunity, this moment, to carry out the historical task of implementing real agrarian reform so as to democratize access to land and eliminate hunger, unemployment and social injustices.

10- We shout out to all workers and to Brazilian society at large to get organized and mobilized, and help us bring about agrarian reform. A more just and egalitarian Brazil is possible. The time has come."

Caruaru, in the Pernambucan drylands, November 7, 2002.

MST National Coordination (Coordenação Nacional do MST)

Translated by Norman Madarasz (normanmadarasz2@hotmail.com)

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