Valmir Rodrigues Chaves, known as Bill, died Monday night (20th) at age 69. He was one of the founders of the MST and spent about 60 days hospitalized in an ICU in São Paulo. Lula, Boulos and the PT published statements mourning his death.
The MST is Brazil's Landless Workers' Movement, an organization that fights for agrarian reform and land rights. Valmir Chaves was one of the movement's pioneers in Pontal do Paranapanema, a region marked by land conflicts in western São Paulo state, and participated in creating Gleba XV de Novembro, one of the state's first agrarian reform settlements.
Valmir Rodrigues Chaves died Monday night (20th) at age 69
He was one of the founders of the MST
Lula published a statement of condolence while in Lisbon
The Gleba XV de Novembro settlement has 2,159 residents distributed among 569 families
Bill dedicated more than 40 years to the struggle for agrarian reform
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (5)
Bill spent about 60 days hospitalized in an ICU in São Paulo
Bill led Coopercampo, a cooperative serving more than 300 families
The Gleba XV de Novembro settlement is the second largest settlement in São Paulo state by population
No gaps declared — all sources converge on the material facts.