Ana, could you please introduce yourself?

I am a native of San Pedro de Moel in Portugal. My grandparents were farmers. They passed down to me their love for land and all that is related to it. Later at university, I studied social and human sciences. In 2002, at the age of 21, I flew to Brazil for the first time so as to attend the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre. This journey had a major impact in my life, because it helped me to know what I wanted to do in life.

You are a member of the MST in Brazil. Why did you decide to integrate this organization?

I met the members of the Landless Farmers’ Movement for the first time during the World Social Forum of 2002. There, I learnt about their action and I discovered that they fought for the rights of the deprived peasants. Being myself a grand-daughter of country farmers, I was deeply touched. I immediately wanted to integrate the movement and not only from abroad. I wanted to entirely devote myself to this activism. I then returned to Portugal with the only goal to prepare my settlement in Brazil, where I have been living for several years now. I am now working in the head office of the MST in the communication department.

Why did you wish to take part in the Janadesh walk?

Initially, I made this choice purely for reasons of solidarity. But beyond that, there was a need to discover, to share an experience which had the same objectives as those of the Landless Peasants’ Movement, namely: the access to the land for all. It is interesting to compare various experiences. Indeed, although popular organizations often share common goals, they do not always use the same means to achieve these goals. For example, Janadesh based its action on the principle of non-violence, which is something we do not know in Brazil. I thus went to India to give my support to their cause, but also to see and learn from them. It is a question of sharing experiences. Moreover it was agreed, during these days of walk, that some members of the Janadesh movement will in turn come to Brazil to see how the Landless Peasants’ Movement works in order to discover our fights and methods.

In a few words, could you please describe this walk?

It was an imposing event, a peaceful and quiet uprising of people yearning for a better future. I would like to point out the massive participation of women who showed much courage and an amazing perseverance. We also received the support of the population, of all those who did not take part in the walk, but who followed us along the way throwing flowers and providing food. The whole uprising was calm despite some tensions which were quickly abated.

In your opinion, was this walk a success?

A true success. Things may not change overnight in India and it will take time and patience to obtain improvements. But members of Janadesh know that they are not alone, because the solidarity of organizations such as the Landless Peasants’ Movement and international associations, among them Frères des Hommes, comfort them in their action.

Also read: Resonances Asia N°18 - November 2007