Weekly Report - 15 January 2009 (ISSN 1741-7422)

The government finally set in motion its land reform project this week, although the only details provided relate to rural development rather than land redistribution. The announcement was hastened after landless groups threatened a new wave of estate invasions because of the lack of progress on land reform. It also came days after the publication of a report written by Brazil's foreign minister, Celso Amorim, for congress, warning of a possible escalation in violence, targeting Brazilian landowners. President Fernando Lugo issued a statement underlining that the estates of the so-called Brasiguayos would be protected.