Stories of Paraná - The beast that walked here

Stories of Paraná - The beast that walked here

The beast that walked here
Marcelo Oikawa

Lured by tales of blood, courage and pioneering spirit, he passed the North of Paraná in the 40s.
It was almost a kid, those who spent their days on the beaches, in the capital of Brazil.
His father, a lawyer in Rio, had received 100 acres of forest as fees in Guaraci.
Do not do anything wrong, doing a favor to the old, come for these lands.
Came, but it was soon though, because they had been occupied by squatters, who had overthrown the forest and were planting cheerfully. The father thought it was not worth fighting.
The lands were worth almost nothing.
At that time, the fresh smell of red earth and adventure stimulated the imagination of all and grabbed anyone by the nose. And feeling the memory of that smell that he decided to return a few years later, when he got into serious trouble with the police here in Rio
As a student activist in the campaign of Our Oil And he was involved in a shootout with police in front of the headquarters of UNE. Two people were killed and 18 wounded.
He was sentenced to four years in jail.
The Northern Paraná was a land of great opportunities.
But it was also the hideout of everyone fleeing from something. And he came to hide, to wait for the dust settles.
Fled from the pan and fell in the fire.
Manoel Ribas had just taken over as intervenor Paraná and one of his first acts was to announce with fanfare that would allot at popular prices 120 000 hectares in small batches northwest of Londrina. The news spread like wildfire across the country and soon, thousands of settlers and their families were invading the region of lands, creating tensions and violence.
All this culminated in the early 50s with the "War of Porecatu", or as it was called at the time, "Paranaense Korea", coming to gather more than 1000 and 500 armed settlers, claiming the legislation of their possessions. The PCB, outlawing at 47, she saw it as an opportunity to put into practice the famous "Manifesto of August", thesis seizure of power by force. The good catch, as he was known, became involved in conflicts, organizing and training the squatters in military tactics.
He could not stay out and now is participating in the "Solidarity Campaign To Resistant to Porecatu". But it was still a bit soon after and was already working in São Paulo branch of the weekly "Today", an organ of the PCB in Londrina.
Was two years.
Soon the war of "Paranaense Korea" is over, the dust has settled and the river he returned home.
Without much cause to shake, decided to take a break and went to be a sportswriter.
He found himself, was famous and important.
João Saldanha eventually coach of the Brazilian Cup qualifying 70. When he climbed his "eleven beasts," Nelson Rodrigues cheered, hailing him as the only one able to do anything to get his mug Tri.
He was not the coach at the World Cup, but their "beasts" were tricampeãs.

Marcelo Oikawa, journalist


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.