Twenty-two peasants were shot to death and dozens wounded in a clash with police during a demonstration over land, authorities said Thursday.
One police officer was slain and six were wounded as they confronted peasants demanding land late Wednesday near the town of Eldorado do Carajas, 1,250 miles northwest of Rio, officials said. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso called the violence “intolerable” and sent Justice Minister Nelson Jobim to Para state to investigate.
Gov. Almir Gabriel of Para fired the state police colonel, whom he blamed for giving the order to fire. He said the government would pay for the victims’ funerals and provide pensions for their families.
There were conflicting reports about who fired first. The Para State Security Bureau said protesters fired guns and threw rocks when state police arrived to negotiate with 2,000 peasants who were blocking a road. Peasants and human rights groups countered that police fired as soon as they came upon the roadblock.
In the past decade, at least 961 peasants or peasant supporters have been killed in land disputes, according to the Pastoral Land Commission, linked to the Roman Catholic Church.
