Quilombolas and Tupinikim/Guarani Indigenous peoples from Espírito Santo continue the re-occupation of their lands.

Since eight days the Linharinho quilombo resists within the 9,543 hectares, recognized as quilombola territory by the Incra (state authoriry responsible for the demarcation of quilombola lands), located in the municipality of Conceição da Barra, extreme north of Espirito Santo,. During the past eight days and with the support of people from the MST, MPA and other supporters from the Alert against the Green Desert Network, the quilombolas cut eucalyptus trees on the place, constructed a tents camp, organized a communitarian kitchen, realized cultural activities and planted herbs, native and fruit trees. 82% of the territory of Linharinho is being controlled by Aracruz Celulose.

Since seven days, the Tupinikim and Guarani indigenous peoples in the same state of Espírito Santo also restarted the re-occupation of 11,009 hectares, also disputed by Aracruz Celulose. The Tupinikim/Guarani closed the accesses to the area for non- Indians who have been entering in the area to cut and take away eucalyptus, and they also initiated the reconstruction of the Olho d´Água village, the village that was destructed in a violent way by the Federal Police in January 2006, with full support of Aracruz Celulose.

Aracruz Celulose declared in the local press that it already went to court and already succeeded to get a court decision in favor of the desoccupation of the respective areas by the quilombolas and the Tupinikim/Guarani. Last Thursday, a court representative went to the quilombo Linharinho, trying to hand over this decision but it was not received by the occupiers. In the indigenous area, nobody received until now any decision from the court about a desoccupation.

Both actions are being realized to put pressure on the federal government to regularize as quick as possible the indigenous and quilombola territories in Espírito Santo. Since 40 years, these lands have been invaded by Aracruz Celulose. The company cleared the native forest and substituted it with eucalyptus monoculture. Today, the quilombola and indigenous communities struggle for their lands, not only to have space for the families to live but also to give another use to the lands, to reforest the lands and to produce food in a diversified and agro-ecological way.

Alert against the Green Desert Network
30 July 2007