Brazil sends elite force to quash police strikers entrenched in city of Salvador
Troops locked down the northeast Brazilian city of Salvador on Sunday as an elite unit prepared to besiege the legislature and arrest armed police officers whose strike action has sent homicides spiralling.
A force of 2.600 members from army, navy and federal police was ordered to quell unrest in the state of Bahia after leading police officers went on strike on Wednesday demanding higher pay, weeks before the annual Carnival.
Homicides have skyrocketed since the strike. State officials said 81 murders were reported over the past five days, more than twice the number for the same period last year. Assaults and store lootings also increased.
“There are 40 men of an elite group that arrived to capture the strikers,” a state government source said, as soldiers patrolled key intersections in the city and kept watch over its popular beaches.
The head of the state legislature, Marcelo Nilo, urged the strikers to leave the building before midnight Sunday. The site “cannot be used as a refuge for those fleeing justice,” Nilo said.
Scores of armed policemen demanding an amnesty have been occupying part of the building since the strike began, said Bahia state government spokesman Robinson Almeida.
“The government knows that 99% of us are armed. If they try to evict us there will be a bloodbath,” an unidentified police officer told the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
One strike leader was arrested on Sunday on charges of “incitement to violence, forming gangs and theft of public property,” officials said. Arrest warrants were outstanding against 11 other leaders.
Bahia Governor Jaques Wagner has declared the strike illegal and asked for federal help. Brazil's top army commander, General Enzo Martins, told the Agencia Brasil that 900 more soldiers were being deployed to Bahia to help provide additional security.
The strike and the spike in violence came just two weeks before millions of tourists were expected to arrive for Brazil's premier tourist event, the Carnival. Bahia, Brazil's fourth most populous state with a population of 13.6 million is an important centre for Carnival celebrations.
Pedro Galvao, president of the Association of Travel Agencies of Bahia, told Brazil's O Globo newspaper that 10% of tourists had already cancelled their air and hotel reservations for the Carnival.
Some 10,000 police officers, or one third of the Bahia police force, were on strike, demanding a 50% pay raise, better work conditions, and no retaliation, the state Public Safety Department said. The average wage for a state officer is about 867 dollars a month.
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“Some 10,000 police officers, or one third of the Bahia police force, were on strike, demanding a 50% pay raise, better work conditions, and no retaliation,” Well now there are 2,600 troops coming I bet there will be some retaliation, oh yes.
I think President Dilma is doing a very good job in extremely difficult circumstances. Frankly, I wish she were president of Argentina.
It sounds like the situation of the Tottenham riots of last year when the police 'withdrew'.
This scenario has just been run as a drama on today's BBC Radio 4 as 'Blue Flu', where the British police didn't strike, but 90% declared they were ill.
3,500 Federal defense force and Federal Police can do a bit, but the loss of cover when 10,000 strike means the federal people can't cover everywhere - even if they don't attend to the striking armed State police.
But you're right, Chris. - if they were paid properly there would be much less 'need' to extort pocket-money from the poor bloody motorists.
Well, about our president, last week the president of the
“coin-house“ ( i dont know the translation for “casa da moeda“) was pulled out of the charge with allegations of corruption. It seems superficial but it isnt, the government divided every space of the State between allies to gain support in the congress, the corruption is so rooted in the PT‘s rule that became normal.
If you have some time search on the economist for the interview of former president Cardoso, he is old and some sort of dumb, but he says some trues.
Greetings from Rio.
I see the dilema, it is the usual one of not giving in the what is seen as blackmail. But the strikers' have already won in a way. Murders have shot through the roof proving the effectiveness of the 10,000 who are striking.
AND, HOW THE HELL DO 10,000 STRIKE WITHOUT CAUSE?
What also bothers me is their fear of reprisal. Is Brasil so bad that their own police force fear them? If this is the case then there are very serious strutural problems within your society.
@3 “how about a good tax reform? Rather than paying more, give the police local/state a better tax rate so they have more money in their wallet after paying tax.”
Not a good idea: it is still YOU, the ordinary worker, paying their private taxes who pay for the taxes of ALL government employees - think about where all the money spent by government comes from (apart from Aduanas etc and commercial tax) if you do not understand.
Much better to give them a raise, they will feel appreciated more by society and the cost is the same.
I did not type ALL government employees. I typed the police local/state level. Rather paying more (comes also out of tax payers), give them a good deal so they have more money in their wallet after taxes. They contribute back to society in their state/community and not only by giving their lives by providing security. Those people have also families and consume in their local community (money needs to role).
Read my post again and try to get your head around these questions:
1) who pays for the government?
2) who therefore pays for the taxes paid by ALL government employees. Hint - it's not the goverment employees or the government - so who's left?
GET IT NOW?
Somehow I don't think you do. And that's the problem.
The people you fool as I typed. and again since you can't read, I do not type here about all government employees.
You think, I know you don't know what you're talking about since you don't know shit about a nation you like to discuss..do more of your “web based research” and also about taxes.
No you are wrong, clue: not all of the people. Try again without losing your temper and abusing me.
If you want me to explain it to you, please ask.
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