Brazil, HOMELESS SQUAT LAND IN OSASCO

Around 400 families squatted, in the early morning of 27th July, a plot of land near the neighbourhood of Cidade de Deus in Osasco, Sao Paulo. The number of families has already increased to 4000 in barely a week of occupation. The land, encompassing around 600.000 m2, was be being used to dismantle stolen cars and to bury the bodies of murdered people, several piles of bones have been found in the area, and as an unauthorised rubbish dump.

According to the information we have, the land is owned by Count Rafael Leonartti, a member of the Matarazzo family, that has presented a claim in the Osasco courts, through the Grama Company Gram, alleging that already there was a project to divide the land up into lots.

According to local inhabitants, the plot was abandoned for more than fifty years, being a hindrance for the local population, that feared the violence attracted to the area the land that was the scene of several crimes. The squat was organised by the Movimento de Luta Popular (MLP - Movement of Grassroots Struggle), by Resistência Popular (RP-SP - People's Resistance) and by the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem-Teto (MTST - Homeless Workers Movement). These organisations count on the support of several regional workers' organisations. The squat already has a communal kitchen, a collective chemist's, a registry office, as well as several commissions that work together organising families.

Despite the several threats of eviction by the Military Police, the homeless are resisting and fighting for their right for housing. Each day is a battle towards victory. The squat now has a name: Camp Carlos Lamarca! However, thousands of families need sustenance, clothes, medicines, etc. To that end we request donations on the part of everybody that can help. Donations can be given to the person who has given you this pamphlet, or by contacting Resistência Popular-SP at rp-sp@bol.com.br.

Camp CARLOS LAMARCA "Porque ao povo, só lhe resta, ousar lutar, ousar vencer" (All that is left to the people is to dare to fight, to dare to win)

Worker <a-infos-en@ainfos.ca> (http://www.red-libertaria.org)

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