Brazil: Rural community threatened by gunmen

Index Number: AMR 19/011/2012
Date Published: 21 August 2012
Categories: Brazil

Forty-five families from the Quilombo Pontes community in Pirapemas, Maranhão state, Brazil, are being systematically threatened and intimidated by gunmen who are patrolling the area. The gunmen have been employed by local ranchers who are trying to push the community off the land. The community’s crops and property have been destroyed and its members are struggling to provide food for their families.