Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of an attack against human rights defender Welinton da Silva on 11 March 2008 in Maranhão. Welinton da Silva works with the Movimento Sem Terra (MST) (Movement of Landless Peasants) which is a part of the Vía Campesina network that is currently supporting the rights of the communities being affected by the construction of a dam in Estreito, Maranhão. 
