BRAZIL: Authorities seek peaceful end to police strike

Record ID: 340719

  • Title: BRAZIL: Authorities seek peaceful end to police strike
  • Date: 8th February 2012
  • Summary: SALVADOR, BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 07, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY WITH ARMY OFFICERS WAITING OUTSIDE VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE ASSEMBLY SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM BANNER READING "INTOLERANCE AND INTRANSIGENCE DON'T MATCH WITH DEMOCRACY" OPERATION COMMANDANT, GONCALVES DIAS, TALKING ON CELLPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OPERATION COMMANDER, GENERAL
  • Embargoed: 23rd February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVATSADU52OPOBHBZC9H18G70ON
  • Story Text: Brazilian authorities met on Tuesday (February 7) to decide the next steps to take toward striking military police officers and their families who are occupying Bahia's Legislative Assembly.
    Some two hundred demonstrators, including women and children, continued to hold their positions inside the building on Tuesday.
    Tension was high throughout the night as some 3,000 Brazilian troops from the Army and National Guard took up positions outside the Assembly.
    In an effort to diffuse the standoff, Brazilian authorities gathered to discuss the situation. A meeting between Brazil's Chief of Staff, Bahia's Administrative Secretary, Bahia's Archbishop and Policeman Commander was held on Tuesday morning to decide how to handle the strike.
    The head of the military operation, General Goncalves Dias, was the key figure in attempting to find a peaceful end. He was surrounded by several striking police officers as he spoke outside the Assembly.
    "If the requests that are being discussed by the authorities are ignored we will renegotiate. There won't be a confrontation with the policemen," he said.
    Dias also said they hoped to find a solution quickly.
    "The blood doesn't justify the raise of 5, 10, 15 or 20 percent. Our country is worth much more than that and I am sure that we will be able to end it (the strike) today," he said.
    The strike began on January 31 as police called for a salary increase. According to authorities, a toll of 115 murders and widespread looting, assaults and vandalism in the past week are roiling the city, casting doubts over upcoming carnival celebrations and raising questions about security ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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