MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazilian police returned on Sunday to patrolling Espirito Santo state
More than 1,200 military police returned to patrols in Espirito Santo on Sunday as the n Brazilian state inched toward normalcy after a protest left a security vacuum that fueled a crime wave. Schools in the state (north of Rio de Janeiro) are scheduled to reopen Monday and public transport will resume a full schedule, the president's office said on Twitter. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesGreat! Did they receive their long pending raises & salaries as well?
Feb 13th, 2017 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Officers claimed the protests kept them confined to their barracks and prevented vehicles from leaving, paralyzing the force for nine days.”
Feb 13th, 2017 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Anyone who believes that ought to have their head examined....the poor, defenceless police were at the mercy of the demonstrators, a bunch of women and children ; the military police who participated in the strike should be court-marshalled, kicked out and fined...their loving, caring wives, who “forced” them to stay inside the barracks, should be fined...and perhaps even prosecuted, for contributing indirectly to the well over one-hundred assassinations, while they were playing games with people's lives.
If they kick them all out another 100 people will be murdered while they are recruiting and training replacements. Not to mention the huge additional expense it'll create. Maybe the government should just try paying them instead?
Feb 13th, 2017 - 07:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://en.mercopress.com/2017/02/13/brazilian-police-returned-on-sunday-to-patrolling-espirito-santo-state/comments#comment461467: The police stop taking orders from the rich, indolent leeches such as you, and it scares you. What's the matter? Loosing control?
Feb 14th, 2017 - 04:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0Besides “NO/LOW” motivation [salaries]; they also are inadequately equipped; to confront the crooks who use the latest weapons from the 1st World Countries!
Feb 14th, 2017 - 09:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0@Hepatia
Feb 14th, 2017 - 01:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Do you really think the murdered people were all 'rich, indolent leeches'? Most of them were linked to drug gangs or were unlucky bystanders in poor areas of the state capital. Everyone in Brazil should be scared when the police go on strike.
@ :o))
When the gangs have more money than the state, it's no longer policing; it's basically a war.
Besides the lack of:
Feb 14th, 2017 - 02:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0- inspiration,
- incentives,
- capital,
- equipment,
- training &
- well-defined laws;
they mainly lack a leadership which gives orders to accept “Zero Tolerance”.
Besides; the population has accepted corruption very quietly. They are mostly apathetic - disinterested. NO wonder Brazil is a Crooks' PARADISE - the crooks OF ALL KINDS!
REF: #1º: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/11/brazils-corruption-scandal-spreads-across-south-america
REF: #2º: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/11/brazils-corruption-scandal-spreads-across-south-america
@DT
Feb 14th, 2017 - 05:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0First of all, the military police WERE being paid...the “pseudo” strike was to force the govt to give them an increase, which it couldn't afford...
Second, while recruiting/training replacements, the Home Guard and the Armed Forces could take over patrolling the streets...as they did, just before the strike ended....as to the expense, how does one weigh this against the lives of the few innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire ? not to mention that losses to shop owners due to looting and lost business, surpassed US$ 100 million. But you are quite correct in saying that the great majority of the killings were amongst drug gang members, as the result trying to increase their 'territory', or 'getting even' - and for which society is only marginally better off, as unfortunately, there is no lack of criminals to take their place.
And third, the Constitution bans strikes of security forces...as to 'why', don't think any explaining is necessary.
Organized crime (as per the criminal factions seen in the prison rebellions and massacres a month ago) is indeed a state within a state, and by the increase in crime, most State govts have long lost control. The gangs don't respect nor fear the police, which is to be expected, considering that police need to follow certain restraints, while OC doesn't. If one of their gang members is killed, just shoot up a few cops and burn some buses....that's what we are up against.
@Hippy
Perhaps you should stick to your inane/insane comments, such as “Malvinas will be returned etc...” instead of trying to take on subjects above your intelligence-grade.
@:o))
You're right about the weaponry available to the police....the crooks get any armament they want from Paraguay, such as high-power assault rifles, heavy-calibre machine guns, hand-grenades, RPG's....while the police have shotguns and 9 mm pistols, are badly trained and have to live with the fear of being prosecuted for killing a criminal...
Most probably, the use of drones - to transport arms, drugs & cash - is common in “THAT” community; besides, the visible use of the portable missiles which can knock-down helicopters & planes and also pulverize heavily armored military vehicles.
Feb 14th, 2017 - 09:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In such a situation;
#1: What “miracles” are the armed forces going to perform - besides remaining away [VERY far away] from the crooks?
#2: Is the population aware that the Law & Order Situation is far beyond ANY control; considering that they are being treated as a laughing stock by the govt. REF: http://plus55.com/brazil-opinion/news/2017/02/brazilian-politicians-screw-themlseves?
@JB
Feb 15th, 2017 - 08:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh? I thought part of the reason for the strikes was that the state has not been paying salaries on time.
The BBC says 700 police have been charged with rebellion, and they can go to jail for 2 years. You don't think that will put them off striking again? But I guess my point really is that if the government doesn't address the issues that caused them to strike, any replacements will be kind of likely to do the same.
But I can totally see why the police are banned from striking!
As for the organised crime, it's a very difficult problem. They seem to do a pretty efficient job of killing each other with no restraints, but it doesn't help. At least this strike has shown that the police are making a difference.
@DT
Feb 16th, 2017 - 01:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oddly enough, Rio is the State that is delaying paying salaries of just about all public servants, yet the police have not gone on strike. The fact is that when the PT was in power, not only the Federal government, but several state governments, staunch allies of the PT, created the same mess in their respective states (overspending and corruption)....now they want the taxpayers to bail them out...convenient, isn't it ?
I doubt that the 700 police will go to jail....they'll most likely be given a rap on the knuckles and be obliged to perform some community services...As to striking again, the same ones or even replacements, we need to remember that most of these cops are knuckleheads, coming from the lower social classes, and not particularly well-educated...in other words, I doubt they'll learn anything from all this.
Many State governments are broke, a situation that will not change overnight, not to mention it might get worse, so paying salaries on time is a balancing act, and salary increases are out of the question. Meanwhile, Congress is trying to pass laws to increase the politicians' already exhorbitant salaries, privileges and benefits, as well as other laws designed exclusively to protect them from their past crimes (corruption and money laundering)....the public's highly negative reaction to all this, is managing to hold them in check...it is clear that they present these indecent proposals in order to 'feel' public sentiment, and depending on this, either go forward or retreat...
When you see what happens when the police are off the streets, it gives you a reasonably good idea of the type of people they are dealing with on a daily basis....looters and murderers, reason why I maintain they should be shown no mercy.
Just fyi, yesterday in Rio, a couple of criminals stole a guy's motorbike, and then went for a drive-by shooting against a Navy truck.....one was killed by the Marines, the other got away...
@JB
Feb 16th, 2017 - 11:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So why was it the Espirito Santo police who went on strike? Are things particularly bad there?
Also I imagine that prison is an especially hard punishment for a cop, but if there are no consequences for them then they will have no reason not to strike again. I'm sure they can learn that, and anyway, poorly-educated is not the same thing as stupid. Is education poor in general in Brazil? I guess it won't be improving any time soon now most of the states are broke.
You congress seems to be a lot more concerned with covering their arses than actually running the country. Are the state governments any better?
And those criminals in Rio... I don't understand crimes like that. Shooting up the Navy soulds both pointless and dangerous, so why do it?
Funny, Brazil does not have enough money to pay respectably adequate salaries to the working-class on one hand and on the other hand, there is a plenty of cash - practically overflowing - for the corrupt to steal!
Feb 17th, 2017 - 12:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yeah, somehow I think those two things may be related!
Feb 17th, 2017 - 08:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0It goes like this:
Feb 17th, 2017 - 10:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0Under the promise - an assumption - that a project WILL improve the “Quality of Life” of the population; gigantic projects are launched with a lot of enthusiasm, publicity, and fanfare. In the case of ALL of them; they:
- are over-budgeted
- surpass budgets 2-4 times [although over budgeted]
- are left incomplete & useless
- are “budgetless” right before/after the “Blueprint-Stage” - the budgets simply VANISH!
So how can there be any money leftover; to pay the salaries?
Is there no anti-corruption party in Brazil? It seems like this would be the ideal time to form one. As well as cleaning up congress and getting rid of the politician's immunity, they could simplify the tax code and promise to concentrate on small projects that are harder to steal large amounts from.
Feb 17th, 2017 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@DT
Feb 17th, 2017 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The police in ES claim they'd had no increase in 4 years...while probably true, what does any normal citizen do when he thinks he's being underpaid ? he changes jobs !!! On the surface, people tend to be sympathetic with their (or rather, their wives') movement , but the consequences are disastrous. The reason they don't look for a better paying job, is because, as I said, they are poorly educated - it's notorious that most cops join the force when they can find no other line of work. I'm not saying they are stupid, but a poor-education (based on the low-quality of public schooling) affords them nothing better.
Most Congressional members go into politics for one reason, to steal. The States CAN be different, depending on the party, and especially on who the governor is. Some manage to maintain a resemblance to seriousness, and keep their noses clean, but most are just crooks.
Crime in Rio (and in most of Brazil, nowadays) is almost self-perpetuating. When a criminal goes to prison, he usually already belongs to one of the many crime-factions, but if he doesn't, he'll need protection while on the inside....this protection is usually paid by the inmates' families, or via owing favours when they get out...so the attack against the marines was quite likely just two idiots trying to keep their side of the bargain...if they had refused, the faction would have them killed. It's a vicious circle and a matter of blind loyalty to the factions.
“Is there no anti-corruption party in Brazil?”
NO. Most politicians preach honesty, but steal like hell. Besides false promises of enacting the long-necessary reforms and their failed 'zero-hunger' programme, that's how the PT got into power. We all know the rest.
If the population were better educated, and less-stupid (because THAT, they are too), openly dishonest, or publicly disgraced politicians wouldn't be re-elected, but as it is, they are an easily manipulated, mass of ignoramuses.
@DemonTree:
Feb 17th, 2017 - 05:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0REF: “Is there no anti-corruption party in Brazil?”:
ALL parties - OFFICIALLY - are “AGAINST-Corruption”!
It is of a GREAT interest to the government [whichever ruling party may be]; to ensure that the masses continue to suffer, have no strength & no will, not enough cash & time, remain uneducated, ignorant and helpless; so that the “leaders” can enjoy remaining in power!
@JB
Feb 18th, 2017 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why are the police only able to recruit those who can't find a better job? Because the pay and conditions are so bad? That suggests they really are underfunded, not that the broke states can do much now. Anyway, it would not be much better for the state if they were leaving in droves; they wouldn't have enough staff to police the city effectively and they'd still have to pay to recruit and train replacements. It would just be a long term problem rather than a short term disaster.
Is São Paulo one of the 'serious' states? And surely some people go into politics for other reasons, even though it appears they all do end up stealing?
That is interesting about the gangs perpetuating crime, too. I wonder if any country has managed to break that cycle? Maybe if the economy improves again, but has crime got significantly worse as the economy has gone downhill?
@:o))
Is there really no one in Brazil who is more interested in improving the country than in enriching themselves? Wouldn't the politicians be better off too if the economy grew and everything functioned better? It's not like they are going to be poor either way.
@DT:
Feb 19th, 2017 - 02:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0REF: “improving the country”: From where it is now; REALLY improving Brazil will need at least 10 years of devotion to the objective. It is a very hard job and will require sustained, persistent and Dedicated Team-Efforts; besides a lot of patience, from the Leaders as well as from the population. It is too much to expect from ANY of the Existing Politicians; to lead the country, in this manner.
On the Other Hand:
A term of a politician - at an AVERAGE - lasts much less than ten years. Hence, during the limited period of being power, they need to earn as much as - the maximum - possible. This is relatively quick & easy!
Traditionally; it is proven that Crime DOES Pay; in Brazil“. There are too many CONCRETE examples of ”successful partnerships” between the Corrupt Leaders and the Crooked Entrepreneurs; for sharing the loot! And both going Scott Free; enjoying the power + loot.
Although today it appears to be more difficult than before - due to the investigations & operations - their stealing-methods will soon become more sophisticated and more difficult to prove the guilt. As such, the present government is already paving the way; to protect the criminals. The following link will give you a better idea about what's in store: http://plus55.com/brazil-politics/news/2017/02/political-tricks-moreira-franco
@DT
Feb 20th, 2017 - 06:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0While officers require a college degree, regular beat-cops probably just need a bit more than basic schooling... the fact is that those with a better education have little desire to become a cop.
Salary levels for military cops vary according to State, as can be seen below :
• Rio G. Sul: R$ 996,00
• S. Catarina: R$ 1.600,00
• Paraná: R$ 1.789,00
• S. Paulo: R$ 2.387,00
• M.Grosso Sul: R$ 2.176,00
• R de Janeiro: R$ 1.137,49
• Esp Santo: R$ 1.801,14
• Minas Gerais: R$ 1.775,72
• Goiás: R$ 2.722,00
• Brasilia: R$ 4.129,73
• Bahia: R$ 1.550,00
The highest is in Brasilia - as to be expected - and the national average is about R$ 1,100.00 (US$ 360) ; São Paulo, despite being the richest State, does not pay the highest salary. So, looks like if they’re content to earn that kind of money, it’s because they aren’t qualified enough for something better. What probably attracts them as well, is the fact that as public servants, they aren't likely to get fired.
Probably true that a few people enter politics for an ideal – other than stealing – but I suspect even fewer are able to resist the temptation.
Regarding the perpetuation of crime, if an inmate wants a fresh start after he's released, he'll have to disappear, along with his family.
Crime has indeed increased with the worsening of the economy, not because of the poor guy who steals a chicken to feed his hungry family, but because with several States all but bankrupt, organized crime takes advantage of the gap in public security, left by the State.
It sounds reasonable to expect that under a better economy, crime indices would retreat, but what also fuels crime is the lack of preparation of the police and a justice system that drags its feet. Also, years ago the average citizen was basically honest, but today, with the example coming from the top filtering down, many have developed a mentality that it's ok to steal.
Is that salary per month? It does seem very low, but I suppose the cost of living is also lower?
Feb 20th, 2017 - 07:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But the fact that crime does pay, and the with the bad example coming from above like you say, it seems that things can only get worse. And the prisons, far from any effort to reform people just force them to join gangs that ensure they can never escape a life of crime? It really does sound almost impossible to fix, although clearing out the corruption in government would be a very good start.
Hi, Jack!
Feb 20th, 2017 - 08:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Apart from what you mentioned:
REF: “several States all but bankrupt”: It's easy to understand and difficult to swallow, because of the Uncontrolled Routine Practices:
- The Expenditure is ALWAYS more than the income
- NO auditing or the audit-reports = toilet-paper
- NO balancing of the budget
- NOBODY is responsible
- NOBODY is punished severely for committing “errors”.
Only a very SMALL number of these crooks are made to pay for their “deeds”; just as “Token Gestures” to keep the population “satisfied[?]”. Besides, ALL of them are allowed to get away with almost 99% of their loot.
REF: “what also fuels crime is the lack of preparation of the police and a justice system”: The whole scheme revolves around the “Exchange of Favors” and The Brotherhood [of the Politicians + The Crime Syndicates] and the immensely sympathetic “Protection” of the two; by:
- The Legal System
- Human Rights &
- the other Govt & Int'l. Organizations; including even
- Religion [believe it or not]
THEY ARE EVEN CONSIDERING “PAYING THE CROOKS”; IF THE JAILS ARE OVER-CROWDED; while the VICTIMS of these crooks have NO rights and no support AT ALL - not even any “verbal” sympathy!!! [I'm just TRYING to paint the whole scenario as less frightening as possible!]
@DT
Feb 20th, 2017 - 10:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yep...monthly salary...really peanuts, and if they're lucky, it probably lasts until the middle of the month...
While Brazil has its charm, there is a lot wrong here....a 'quasi'-honest government would be a good start to straighten things out...but for that to happen, the people need to be better-educated, to change their 'lazy' mentality and to show as much interest in what their representatives are doing, as much as they show with Carnival...
@:o)) to put it lightly, “ 'tamo fú...e mal pagos”..
;(
Feb 20th, 2017 - 10:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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