| Written by Luciana Candido, Diego Cruz and Viny Pessoa |
| Tuesday, 17 January 2012 22:44 |
 The clash troops of the Military Police were getting organized close to Pinheirinho. The sun was rising and started dissipating the last night’s heavy and dark atmosphere when what seemed unbelievable happened. A Federal Court decision prevented the eviction of the nearly 10.000 people from Pinheirinho. The decision temporarily suspends the action of the Military Police. But there is no doubt that this is an important victory for the movement.The news reached the community at 5 o’clock, and immediately the silence and apprehension turned into a huge and impressive explosion of joy. “Pinheirinho is ours! Pinheirinho is ours!,” cried out those brave warriors. From all sides everyone could hear explosions. But these explosions were not coming from the Military Police. It was the fireworks that would be used to alert residents about the police mega-operation that turned inevitably into an instrument of celebration. Toninho Donizete, lawyer for the Pinheirinho’s residents said that a contingent of police officers who were coming by bus from Guarulhos, São Paulo Metropolitan Region, was forced to turn around and return. The midia of the region on this Tuesday took the eviction for granted. The “Portal do Vale”, a website of the region, reported that around 1,800 police officers should participate in the operation, the largest repossession in the State history. “You are pointing at the wrong direction, the criminals are at the other side of the barricades” said a letter from the residents to the police officers.  As soon asthe news arrived, all residents poured onto the streets. They carried Toninho and Marrom (the leader of the community) in their arms. Marrom fainted after receiving the news.”I expected the worst for today. There was no hope anymore. Now I’m very happy because I want to raise my children here”, said Maria de Fatima, who has lived in Pinheirinho since 2004. Congratulations to Pinheirinho’s workers for this important victory. The struggle will continue! Now it’s time to fight for the regularization of Pinheirinho. We will keep mobilized and will celebrate this important victory. “What could be a tragic moment has become into an amazing time. It seemsthe Soccer World Cup”, said Luis Carlos Prates, the “Mancha” (of the leadership of the Metal worker Union of São José). “Now we have to press the municipality and the state government to regulate the Pinheirinho”, he says. Source: www.pstu.org.br Related article: Urgent Campaign: Pinheirinho’s residents face threat of forced eviction |