Landless Brazilians demand food, land from govt
SAO PAULO, April 16 (Reuters) - Landless peasants staged demonstrations outside government offices across Brazil on Wednesday to demand land for 150,000 displaced families and more public money for farm production.
This was part of a wave of actions by the militant Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), which invaded several private properties earlier this week.
They also wanted to draw attention to the plight of about 150,000 homeless peasant families who are now camped out along roadsides.
The MST said in a statement that nearly 1,000 rural workers demonstrated outside a government-owned bank, the Caixa Economica Federal, in the capital Brasilia. About 300 workers occupied an office of the national food supply company in Bauru, in Sao Paulo state.
Protests were also staged in six other states.
"We need to have funding specifically to create settlements and to produce enough food to feed the population," MST national coordinator Marina dos Santos said in the statement.
Last month, the MST targeted several major companies, including a blockade of mining giant Vale's (VALE5.SA)RIO.N biggest iron ore mine in the Amazon.
MST and similar groups often occupy farms, block highways, torch crops and stage rallies to pressure the government to give more land to the poor. Landowners often hire armed guards and hit squads to repel invasions.
(Reporting by Stephanie Beasley; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Vicki Allen)
