“Santa Rita is strategic; from there, the invaders want to take 70,000 hectares” | “Santa Rita es estratégico, a partir de ahí los avasalladores quieren tomar 70.000 hectáreas”

By Unitel:

Denounces Anapo manager

“It’s up to the Government to give clear signals that it will act with the full force of the law, and that starts with arresting the ringleaders,” said Jaime Hernández, manager of the Oilseed and Wheat Producers Association (Anapo)

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[Photo: UNITEL] / Jaime Hernández, general manager of the Oilseed and Wheat Producers Association (Anapo)

Jaime Hernández, general manager of the Oilseed and Wheat Producers Association (Anapo), denounced that over 60 properties have been invaded to date and warned that the goal of these criminal groups is to seize the Santa Rita ranch, as it is a “strategic” property from which they intend to “take 70,000 hectares.”

“The Santa Rita ranch is the only property they haven’t been able to take yet, and for them it’s strategic because from there they plan to expand into more properties in the northern integrated zone,” he said about the land located in the Guarayos province of Santa Cruz.

“It’s been revealed that their intention is to take over more than 70,000 hectares of productive land,” he added.

The takeover

In a phone call, Filipe Barbieri, owner of the Santa Rita property, denounced Thursday afternoon that he was being held along with his workers by a group of armed invaders, and called for police intervention.

Barbieri said a group of armed individuals attacked his truck and that of his foreman, injuring one of his workers.

The Government later reported that it had ordered a police operation. On Friday morning, the owner’s wife, Melissa Barba, confirmed the presence of police at the ranch. “He told me that the police arrived this morning,” she said.

She added that with this, the people being held could leave; however, she emphasized that they won’t, as they are determined to continue working in production.

Government

Hernández reported that there are documents detailing how the criminal groups plan to distribute these lands to the invaders.

According to the official, “it’s up to the Government to give clear signals that it will act with the full force of the law, and that starts with arresting the ringleaders of these criminal acts.”

There are numerous properties involved, not just agricultural but also livestock, totaling around 60.

“In the last information survey conducted a few months ago, there were at least 60 properties that had been invaded and are facing this situation of legal uncertainty to continue producing,” he said.

The sector urges the Government to ensure legal security to safeguard production and investments.

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