MST Pernambuco denies IPA occupation in Arcoverde: Nill Junior

In an official statement released this Friday (3), the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in Pernambuco clarified that it did not occupy any area of ​​the Agricultural Research Institute (IPA) in Arcoverde nor did it destroy palm plantations, as was suggested. for unfounded information.

According to the note, the management of the IPA Station in Arcoverde was spreading false rumors to cover up internal conflicts with longtime residents of the region. The MST emphasizes the importance of a field visit by the IPA state management to verify the real situation and correctly inform society.

The Movement reiterates its commitment to defending natural assets for food sovereignty, highlighting partnerships with the Pernambuco Agronomic Institute, such as the development of research with Creole seeds and the production of agroecological foods.

Furthermore, the statement expresses support for the homeless families who have been fighting for land in the IPA area of ​​Arcoverde for 14 years. The MST repudiates any act of prejudice and violence against these families and reinforces its solidarity and support for the cause.

The state leadership of the MST in Pernambuco reinforces that it was not responsible for the occupation of the IPA area, but stands alongside the struggling families and reiterates its commitment to social justice and popular agrarian reform. Read the full note below:

The Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), in Pernambuco, has publicly announced to society that we do not occupy any area of ​​the Arcoverde IPA, nor do we destroy Palma plantations. The management of the IPA Station in Arcoverde is spreading false rumors to camouflage internal conflicts with longtime residents of the Station.

It is important that the IPA state management makes a field visit to see what is really happening, and correctly inform society.

We, as a Peasant Movement, have as a principle the defense of natural assets for food sovereignty, we even have several partnerships with the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco regarding creole seeds that we highly value, such as: unprecedented rice planting experience, we are developing research with four varieties in four Landless territories in the sphere of seed production, since 2023. This year we will start planting agroecological rice in Zona da Mata, we are starting to plant garlic, we have a fish farming project, we are producing corn seeds in partnership with IPA, and we have already started dialogues for the production of new varieties of cassava and cassava.

However, we as a Popular Movement whose origins are the Struggle, we want to highlight our support for the Homeless families who are fighting for Land in the space of the IPA of Arcoverde, who have been fighting for many years and demanding Land to live on, 14 years of struggle , however some of the IPA Arcoverde employees treat families with a lot of prejudice and violence. We from the MST reaffirm that we were not the ones who occupied the IPA area, even so, we want to leave our solidarity and all support to the families in struggle.

MST/PE State Directorate