News: TI1 Australia's Tombador Iron halts Brazil mine production after unrest, page-19

Sorry folks, didn't see this until now, but here's the latest. Regrettably it looks as though the solution is superficial and the problem will continue to fester.

After court decision, communities vacate road in Sento Sé

Published 2 days ago

on February 11, 2023

By **riel Filiph

Residents of traditional riverside communities in Sento Sé, who occupied a stretch of BA-210 since January 30, were surprised yesterday afternoon (10) with a writ of repossession. Military police went to the camp to comply with the court decision that favored Tombador Iron Mineração. The road was unblocked without any response, proposal or negotiation on the main agenda of the protest: the paving of the road that connects Ponta D’Água to the municipal seat, about 100 kilometers that crosses 11 communities.

There were 12 days of intense mobilization of communities affected by mining with the aim of drawing the attention of public bodies to the problems that the population has been facing. On February 7th, the protesters even sent a letter to the City Hall requesting a hearing to deal with the matter. However, unlike what was announced in the press, the City Hall did not respond to the request.

“No one showed up, not even the mayor, nor councillors, nor the State Government. The feeling is of great indignation, for our rulers we are invisible, nobody cares if we have an accident. The impacts caused by this mining company are horrible and this road issue is urgent”, said teacher Sônia Maria de Oliveira from the Pascoal community.

This indignation is a common feeling of the demonstrators. “We stayed all these days on the side of the road, sunbathing, dust on our faces, waiting for someone to help us. Who appeared to receive us were the police and the bailiff. We have no one for us, we only have God”, commented Dona Maria Rosa Cruz, from the Tombador de Cima community.

The mobilization of riverside communities against the impacts of Tombador Iron Mineração has lasted more than three years. During all this time, the population has denounced, in different ways, the socio-environmental damage caused by the company and the worsening quality of life in the communities. Despite the court decision, which ended the road occupation, the struggle for basic rights continues until rural workers and fishermen are heard.

From the Editor – Sento Sé Notícias