Attack against workers kills 2 people in Belo Monte

A speeding car ran over workers who were protesting at the Trans-Amazon highway; The driver afterwards set the car on fire and escaped on a motorcycle.

Yesterday night (Monday, May 18^th), agricultural workers organized in the Rural Workers Trade Union (STTR) from various municipalities of the Trans-Amazon and Xingu, who are blocking the highway access at the BR-230 and the access to the construction sites of Belo Monte were attacked.

A man, driving a fiat palio, who seemed angry due to the blockage, drove his car towards the people. Many were injured, one young man died immediately and a woman died on the way to hospital, another worker is wounded and at high risk of death.

Blocking a highway is not an option, but a necessity for those who fight for rights in this country. It is a way to force the state to compromise with historical demands of the workers.

The Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) repudiates violence against any worker, and particularly when fighting for rights. It is unacceptable to continue losing our brothers and sisters because they are in the struggle for rights.
This action did not come only from someone displeased with the blocked highway, there is evidence that it was a planned criminal action. Soon after running over workers the driver stopped and set the car on fire. The driver fled on a motorcycle, the motorcyclist was providing cover to the attacker. The rural workers state that both were armed and threatened to kill more people.
So far, the police have not identified the author of the crime.

We cannot allow these deaths to go unpunished! We demand justice!