Susano and the MST have resumed dialogue and want to implement the agreement

The Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira, informed that the portfolio has created a negotiating table between pulp producer Suzano and the Movement of Landless Rural Workers (MST). “During the meeting with representatives of the Suzano Papel e Celulose company and the MST, the dialogue was resumed. In 2011, there were talks between the parties, which are three companies created by Susano, and that dialogue broke off in 2016. We have created a negotiating table, which will hold its first meeting on March 16,” the minister told reporters. after a mediation meeting with representatives of the company and the social movement.

“Until then, the parties will review the terms of the signed agreement in order to update it. We want to reaffirm the agreement signed in 2011, because the parties want to fulfill it,” added the minister. Teixeira did not elaborate on the reasons for breaking the agreement between the company and the social movement in 2016.

On February 27, the MST invaded three manufacturing areas in the far south of Bahia. The movement claims that the company has not fulfilled the agreement signed in 2011, according to which the areas are used for eucalyptus monoculture.

Susano states that he has fulfilled his part of the contract by allocating 12 rural properties for Incra and family settlements to acquire. The company claims that Incra has completed the acquisition of only 2 rural properties. “We will not accept disrespect for the Constitution, private property and the rule of law. The discussion of such topics in the meeting with MDA and MST after the liberation of the illegally encroached areas shows the willingness of the company to move forward in jointly building a solution to the problem,” the company said in a statement.

Teixeira stated that Susano recognizes the obligations assumed by the 2011 agreement and that he will discuss with the federal government the methods of action and implementation. “We believe that progress has been made today, and it serves as an example that all kinds of conflicts can be resolved in this way. We opened a new conflict settlement process with the aim of supporting those families that need to be settled by agrarian reform programs,” he said. According to Teixeira, MST yesterday vacated the areas that were reintegrated by the company.

Teixeira again denied the raids on fertile lands. “We all want peace in the villages. We all want to resolve any conflict through dialogue. Respect for property rights will be invigorating for these actors here,” he defended.

Besides Teixeira, the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Marcio Elias; Paulo Henrique Rodríguez Pereira, Executive Secretary of the Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development, Secretariat of Institutional Relations; Afonso Florence, Secretary of the Civil House of Bahia; Interim President of Incra, Cesar Aldrig; Claudia Dadico, Director of Agrarian Conflict Mediation and Conciliation, MDA; Luis Bueno, vice president of Susano; Valner Jr., legal executive director of the company; and MST leaders João Paulo Rodríguez, Evanildo Costa, and Lusineia Duras.

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