BRAZIL: Striking police in Salvador vow to continue protest, despite abandoning occupation of local assembly

Record ID: 340728

  • Title: BRAZIL: Striking police in Salvador vow to continue protest, despite abandoning occupation of local assembly
  • Date: 10th February 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF A FAMILY OF ARGENTINE TOURISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINE TOURIST, ALEX ALTNANN, SAYING: "We are relaxed. There is a lot surveillance. We are fine and enjoying the city." TOURIST TAKING A PICTURE
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAANQPEKZRE6BJLMKK52DBX7SIU
  • Story Text: Police on strike in the northern Brazilian city of Salvador said they would not return to work on Thursday (February 9) as they maintained demands for higher pay.
    The decision came after a group of 300 police officers abandoned Salvador's legislative assembly building which they had occupied since last week following a stand-off with the military.
    A group of police gathered at a local precinct and vowed to continue the strike which was launched on January 31st.
    "The police have decided to continue the strike. They are going gather at 4:00 p.m. to wait for the government's proposal," said congressman Tadeu Fernandes.
    Almost one third of the state of Bahia's police force has been on strike - causing a surge in violent crime sending with local officials reporting at least 115 murders and widespread looting, assaults and vandalism in the past week.
    In response, Brazil deployed more than 3,500 soldiers to return order to the state.
    An Argentine tourist, Alex Altnann, told Reuters he and his family felt safe in the city despite the violence.
    "We are relaxed. There is a lot of surveillance. We are fine and enjoying the city," Altnann said.
    Salvador is a popular tourist destination and a Carnival hotspot.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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