A forced eviction is set to take place in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in which 20,000 people will be set upon by 10,000 military police if they fail to comply with thousands of leaflets dropped from helicopters over the region, announcing to residents that violence will be their own fault if they fail to evict themselves. The community has stated none will leave their homes.
The military police action was announced despite the absence of a court decision regarding the eviction. The action was announced by means of leaflets dropped from helicopters, warning that failure to comply with the eviction will result in possible violence.
The leaflets stated that the Military Police of Minas Gerais (PMMG) would follow their orders for the repossession of the occupied lands, in accordance with the constitution and the fundamental principles of human rights, and suggested that pregnant women, seniors, children and people with special leave the location for their wellbeing.
“The responsibility for these people’s health lies with the (resistance) movement,” the leaflet stated.
The houses of the 8,000 families will be demolished. No relocation scheme has been set in place, so the evicted will be rendered homeless.
According to the commander of the PMMG, Colonel Machado, “The eviction will take place in the next 15 days, but I will not say the specific day. We will use full force. Leave the area.”
Human rights lawyers are contesting the eviction.
In the absence of legal defense, residents met and decided unanimously to attempt to remain in their homes.
“We will not leave this ground,” said one member of the community, Carvalho Elielma, “It was empty before and now it’s being used for housing. The three communities are united behind this idea,” Elielma said, referring to the affected Rosa Leon, Hope and Victory communities.
Brazilian news organization Averdade predicted that the police eviction may result in a “massacre.”
Belo Horizonte is the sixth largest city in Brazil and has 2.5 million municipal citizens and 5.2 metropolitian residents.
The land is wanted for development. The development is projected to be worth $6.5 billion.
By Sid Douglas