arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

In the early hours of Saturday 2 february, 10 armed men invaded the São Paulo offices of the CUT. 2 of the men were wearing the clothing of the Civil Police. Computers, documents and other office equipement were loaded into a waiting van. The Central Única dos Trabalhadores is one of the groups responsible for the organisation of the World Social Forum. There are fears that this attack is part of a series of political attacks on left-wing groups. In December of last year, Aldanir dos Santos, a leading member of the CUT was shot in the head, only last week Celso Daniel, Prefect of Santo André and Partido dos Trabalhadores member, was abducted and killed. The hype about Porto Alegre must not make us forget that Brasilian politics are ridden with violence, that trade unionists are frequently in mortal danger, and that political crimes are often carried out with impunity.