Farmers occupy the Finance Department and block highways.
Protesters from peasant movements and landless workers have been occupying the State Finance Secretariat since Wednesday morning; they are demanding more investment in family farming and agrarian reform; three roads were blocked at 8 am, but only the BR-158, in the Aragarças section, remains with traffic interrupted on a bridge; in Brasília, protesters invaded the Ministry of Agriculture (pictured).
Vinícius Lisbon
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Brazil Agency Protesters from peasant movements and landless workers have been occupying public buildings and highways in Goiás since early this morning (16), demanding more investment in family farming and agrarian reform. Three roads were blocked at 8 am, but only the BR-158, in the Aragarças section, remains with traffic interrupted on a bridge. The protesters release traffic at times, which causes congestion to vary from one to six kilometers.
The movement is related to World Food Day, celebrated today. According to Sandra Alves, from the national leadership of the Popular Peasant Movement, "it is necessary to build a structural plan for small producers in the state, with the creation of a policy for small-scale agriculture and healthy food. Today is World Food Day, and there are peasant struggles all over the world."
Protesters blocked the entrance to the Finance Secretariat in Goiânia, the state capital, demanding a meeting with the governor, Marconi Perillo (PSDB). Among the movement's demands is the allocation of 3% of the state budget to policies aimed at small farmers, including technical assistance, land regularization, and agrarian reform. Due to the blockade, employees of the agency were unable to enter the building in the morning.
According to Sandra Alves, approximately 2,500 people – 1,500 according to the Military Police – are participating in the demonstration in Goiânia. In the afternoon, the protesters will march to the state government headquarters, where they hope to meet with the governor. The Finance Secretariat confirmed the meeting, but as of noon, there was still no official confirmation from the governor's office. According to the Goiás Military Police, the morning protest was peaceful.
On BR-364, in Jataí, the blockade ended at 9:10 am, according to the Federal Highway Police, after negotiations between the protesters and the police, who were trying to contain the dissatisfaction of the highway users.
In Mozarlândia, GO-164 was also blocked with burning tires and the presence of approximately 250 people, according to the State Highway Police, but traffic was peacefully reopened around 10:30 am. Police officers were instructed to remain vigilant regarding the movement of the protesters.