Yesterday evening as many as 11 of Brazil’s biggest cities saw the largest mass public demonstrations for 20 years as up to 200,000 people came out in protest against the Brazilian Government. The largest demonstration was in Rio de Janeiro where 100,000 people formed a peaceful protest-march through the metropolitan centre however, the demonstration soon descended into anarchy as an insufficient number of police were present in order to maintain public order.
Written by Chris White
Youths were reported to have attack the police with rocks, wounding five officers and to have set several parked cars and the State Assembly Building ablaze.
Police were forced to resort to tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the rioters.
In Brazil’s inland capital of Brasilia demonstrators, – many of whom were students – managed to breach the government security perimeter at Brazil’s National Congressional building and proceeded to scale the roof of the building, chanting slogans such as “the people have awakened” and waving placards.
The demonstrators agreed to come down when asked by police negotiators but then formed a human chain around the AFP News Agency building.
The initial cause for the demonstrations were increases in the subsidised price of public services, with a price hike in the price of public bus fares in Sao Paulo acting as the catalyst for a whole range of issues ranging from government nepotism and corruption to incompetence on the part of local authorities .
Before June 2nd a single bus fare was R$3 (3 reals) / US$1.40 / £0.90, but the price hike on June 2nd raise the fare to R$3.20 (3.20 reals), or an increase of 15.5% since January 2011 – an increase which the Sao Paulo authorities responsible argue is well below current inflation levels.
With the country due to host both the World Cup this year and the World Olympics in 2016, many have argued that vast public resources currently being funnelled into public works intended to facilitate the events, have left Brazil’s public sector workers and dependants in an impoverished condition.
Garry Duffy, the BBC’s correspondent in Sao Paulo this morning reported much widespread anger over the Brazilian Government’s perceived decision to devote vast sums of public money on public works to accommodate international events, while neglecting the nation’s health and education services.
Commenting in the huge level of spending conducted by the Brazilian Government Brazil’s Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said: “The government assumed the responsibility and the honour to stage these two international events and will do so, ensuring the security and integrity of the fans and tourists.”
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