International Day of Peasants’ Struggles Marks 30th Anniversary of Eldorado dos Massacre

The Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST) is conducting a series of national actions throughout April 2026 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Eldorado do Carajás Massacre. The events coincide with the International Day of Peasant Struggles on April 17, 2026, serving as a symbol of resistance in the ongoing struggle for land and agrarian reform in Brazil.

The Eldorado do Carajás Massacre occurred on April 17, 1996, in the southeast of Pará state. During a police operation at the Curva do S of highway PA-150, military police shot and killed landless rural workers who were occupying land as part of a demonstration for the federal appropriation of a private ranch. Reports on the death toll vary between 19 and 21 workers, with 69 others injured during the incident.

National Struggle Action 2026

The MST’s National Struggle Action is being implemented across several Brazilian states throughout April 2026. The movement is utilizing these activities to engage society in dialogues regarding food sovereignty, agroecology, and a development model based on social justice.

A central component of the program is a march titled The voice for life will silence greed: for Popular Agrarian Reform and in memory of the 30 years of the Eldorado do Carajás Massacre. This march departs from the municipality of Curionópolis and travels to the Curva do S in Eldorado do Carajás, with broadcasts provided by Rádio Web Liberdade.

The broader schedule of activities includes:

• Political acts and marches.
• Solidarity actions.
• Land occupations.
• Educational initiatives.

Youth Pedagogical Encampment

Parallel to the anniversary commemorations, the MST is hosting the 20th edition of the Oziel Alves Youth Pedagogical Encampment. This event brings together 500 young people from the states of Pará, Maranhão, Tocantins, and Roraima.

The encampment is designed to organize and educate MST youth through debates on the Popular Agrarian Reform project. The program includes various workshops and cultural activities, such as music, arts, a film screening, and a photography exhibition.

International Context and Legacy

The 30th anniversary is being observed internationally by La Via Campesina, an organization representing peasant movements from more than 70 countries. The organization has mobilized for the International Day of Peasant Struggles on April 17, 2026, to honor the workers killed by the Military Police in 1996.

The massacre remains a significant point of reference for rural violence in Brazil. Historical records indicate the police were ordered to clear the highway at any cost by Paulo Sette Câmara, the state secretary of public security at the time. Legal proceedings related to the massacre resulted in the jailing of two commanders on May 7, 2012.