In one of the large estates that has been occupied in Viamao, there was an investigation of the Federal Police that led to the seizing of over two tons of marihuana.

There were other two land occupations in that state of the south of Brazil. In Vacaria municipality nearly 400 landless families occupied fiscal land and in Sananduva another 200 people broke into a 320 hectare-plot of land.

Besides, the over thousand MST peasants that took part in the three occupations are demanding the authorities, including the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), to fulfill their commitment of handing over lands, after three years without new settlements in Rio Grande do Sul.

At a meeting with INCRA representatives and the local government carried out last week, the MST leaders insisted with the terms of the agreement signed in April and denied to lift the protest measure until they are given guarantees that they will have lands for all the occupying families.

Meanwhile, MST leaders who are occupying the lands began to cultivate vegetables, in coordination with other settlements of the region.

The MST website reports that near Viamao there is already a settlement where nearly 250 families live. They produce rice and agroecological vegetables within a production cooperative.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/af_rod...