MLST occupies the city hall of Joaquim Gomes

Alagoas247 - Around 80 families from at least eight settlements linked to the Landless Liberation Movement (MLST) have been occupying the headquarters of the Joaquim Gomes City Hall, in the Zona da Mata region of Alagoas, since early Monday morning (21). This is the third occupation by rural workers in 2014 alone. The group is demanding improvements in the structure of the settlements.

One of the regional coordinators of the MLST, Val Lima, says that there have already been talks with representatives of the municipal government, but the promises to bring benefits to the places where the families are settled have not been fulfilled. He emphasizes that they will only leave the location after there is a positive indication of how to meet the needs of the community.

He adds that the roads remain in ruins, there is a shortage of doctors for healthcare, some schools lack school meals, the agrarian reform fair is neglected by the public authorities and, due to lack of resources, is threatened with not continuing.

Val Lima says that, on average, 290 families are being affected by the lack of public policies and hopes that the Joaquim Gomes City Hall can become sensitive to the issue and thus meet the collective interests of those settled by the movement.

To remain encamped, the workers brought food and prepared their meals on-site. Military personnel went to the headquarters of the Executive Branch and spoke with the leaders. The movement is peaceful and there are no reports of damage to property.

According to the website JGNotícias, advisors from the current administration have offered to negotiate with the workers.

With gazetaweb.com