BRAZIL: Residents of the city of Salvador, which has seen thousands of policemen go on strike, choose to stay home out of fear for their safety, leaving the streets of the once vibrant city empty and free of movement

Record ID: 340721

  • Title: BRAZIL: Residents of the city of Salvador, which has seen thousands of policemen go on strike, choose to stay home out of fear for their safety, leaving the streets of the once vibrant city empty and free of movement
  • Date: 8th February 2012
  • Summary: SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 7, 2012) (REUTERS) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) MOON SALVADOR'S LIGHTHOUSE GENERAL VIEW OF BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE IN BACKGROUND GENERAL VIEW OF TROOPS SURROUNDING LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, SUNRISE SUNRISE VARIOUS OF TROOPS ARRIVING WITH WEAPONS STRIKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OUTSIDE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MILI
  • Embargoed: 23rd February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ZI7N0QTII98H057OM7DZNDO3
  • Story Text: Morning rose over the Brazilian city of Salvador on Tuesday (February 07) as thousands of policemen continued their strike in a demand for higher pay.
    Since January 31, some 4,000 police and their families have occupied Salvador's Legislative Assemblies.
    Brazil has deployed thousands of soldiers to patrol the streets where crime has more than doubled.
    "We have police in various areas of the state who are working jointly with federal forces when necessary in the zones where units went on strike," Colonel Gilson Santiago told Reuters Television.
    While the legislative assembly has now been surrounded by the military and the situation there remains tense, police from neighbouring states have said they are prepared to join the strike in a show of solidarity.
    "There is an article (of law) that exists on a national level in the event of an invasion. At least six states are prepared to stop working in a show of solidarity with the strike here. Rio de Janeiro is considering (state), Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara, Para, Tocantins and Rondonia are the states that guaranteed they would join the strike should there be an invasion or any other violence carried out by the government or the army," one police officer from a neighbouring state said.
    Authorities said at least 93 homicides have been registered in different neighbourhoods of Salvador since the state-wide police strike began on Tuesday, a 129 percent increase from the previous week.
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