In 1998, the Usina Trapiche sugar refinery petitioned the state to take over the land. The islanders say that the refinery then followed up its petition by destroying their homes and small farms – and threatening further violence to those who did not leave.
在巴西北部的伯南布哥州（Pernambuco），一群渔民家庭自1914年以来便生活在西里尼亚恩河（Sirinhaém River）河口的小岛上。1998年，Usina Trapiche炼糖厂要求伯南布哥州征用土地。岛民说，炼糖厂在提出要求后就破坏了他们的家园和小农场，并威胁没有离开的岛民进一步使用暴力。