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Valmir Chaves, MST founder, dies at 69

2 sources · 22 Apr 2026

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.

Where they disagree: 5 partial reports · 5 consensus points See the disagreements →

What the sources say

Consensus
5
all sources agree
Partial
5
only one or two report
Disputed
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Consensus

Valmir Rodrigues Chaves died Monday night (20th) at age 69

2 sources
Consensus

He was one of the founders of the MST

2 sources
Consensus

Lula published a statement of condolence while in Lisbon

2 sources
Consensus

The Gleba XV de Novembro settlement has 2,159 residents distributed among 569 families

2 sources
Consensus

Bill dedicated more than 40 years to the struggle for agrarian reform

2 sources
Unconfirmed exclusive
1 source · tap to expand

Bill spent about 60 days hospitalized in an ICU in São Paulo

⚠ only one source — exclusive, unconfirmed

Reported by: congressoemfoco.com.br
Silence from: Jovem Pan Partidário
Unconfirmed exclusive
1 source · tap to expand

The cause of death was not disclosed

⚠ only one source — exclusive, unconfirmed

Reported by: congressoemfoco.com.br
Silence from: Jovem Pan Partidário
Unconfirmed exclusive
1 source · tap to expand

Guilherme Boulos also mourned the death

⚠ only one source — exclusive, unconfirmed

Reported by: congressoemfoco.com.br
Silence from: Jovem Pan Partidário
Unconfirmed exclusive
1 source · tap to expand

Bill led Coopercampo, a cooperative serving more than 300 families

⚠ only one source — exclusive, unconfirmed

Reported by: congressoemfoco.com.br
Silence from: Jovem Pan Partidário
Unconfirmed exclusive
1 source · tap to expand

The Gleba XV de Novembro settlement is the second largest settlement in São Paulo state by population

⚠ only one source — exclusive, unconfirmed

Reported by: Jovem Pan Partidário
Silence from: congressoemfoco.com.br

All sources

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