BRAZIL

BRAZIL

Social movements invade facility: Brazil mine company

Xinhua

23rd August 2007

Brazil's largest mine company Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) said on Wednesday that the Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Movement of People Harmed by Dams invaded and took over one of its subsidiaries and took two employees as hostages. The company said after Minas Gerais' State Police stepped in to negotiate with the movement leaders, the hostages were released.

The CVRD issued a statement to condemn the incident, saying "MST uses the presence of children, women and students to promote the invasion and the private captivity" of its employees. The MST was created in the 1980s to fight for Brazil's agrarian reform. Over the years, it has expanded its scope and has been involved in a wide range of social and economic campaigns in the country.