BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2014 Police in Brasilia join strike as World Cup draws near

Record ID: 341730

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2014 Police in Brasilia join strike as World Cup draws near
  • Date: 22nd May 2014
  • Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (MAY 21, 2014) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF CIVIL POLICE GATHERED IN DEMONSTRATION MORE OF POLICE DURING DEMONSTRATION CLOSE-UP OF T-SHIRT ON DEMONSTRATING POLICE OFFICER READING, 'S.O.S. FEDERAL POLICE' PROTEST SIGNS ON THE GROUND DEMONSTRATING POLICE HOLDING SIGN THAT READS, 'RESTRUCTURING NOW' DEMONSTRATOR DRAPED IN A BRAZILIAN FLAG AND ANOTHER IN A CIVIL POLI
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5QG83HXDNAFU5E0X24WFW1LTE
  • Story Text: Police in the World Cup host city of Brasilia held a 24-hour strike and demonstrated in the streets of the capital city Wednesday (May 21) just weeks from the start of the soccer championship.
    The civil police in the capital district were on strike from midnight Wednesday until midnight Thursday.
    The unit had enough on-duty officer to attend to non-urgent matters until the strike was lifted.
    The Brasilia units joined at least ten other state civil police units that were also striking on Wednesday including those in Rio de Janeiro and the state of Bahia.
    Representatives from the federal police and some military police officers joined the civil police in a demonstration in the nation's capital.
    The civil police are calling for salary and bonus adjustments, new safety measures, meal tickets and infrastructure concerns along with other work related issues.
    The police strikes come just over three weeks from the June 12 kick off of the World Cup and police have warned they could strike again during the tournament if their demands are not met.
    The president of the federal police union, Flavio Werneck, said the police factions wanted to let the public know about the current conditions police officers face.
    "We are very worried, and hope, just like all Brazilians, that the World Cup goes on in the best possible way. But we have to alert everyone that the level of public safety, the level of effectiveness and impunity in the country is very bad - with or without the Cup," Werneck said.
    The demonstrations could be an indicator of possible larger protests to come during the World Cup.
    During last year's warm-up Confederations Cup millions took to the streets to denounce corruption and call for more spending on public services including healthcare and education.
    "It is getting clearer and clearer to the people that policy is determined in the streets. Big changes don't come from closed rooms; they come from the street, the people going in the street and being assertive and changing society actively," a demonstrator who joined the police, Tiago Avila, told Reuters.
    The demonstrating police officers marched down the main ministerial drag of Brasilia and delivered a letter to the justice ministry with their demands.
    "We deserve, Brazil and all Brazilians deserve public safety. With or without the Cup, we don't have this kind of expertise in public safety," Werneck added.
    The World Cup will kick off in Sao Paulo on June 12 with the final being played in Rio on July 13.
    Brasilia will host seven World Cup matches including the play-off for third place on July 12.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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