Police strike causes wave of violence in Brazil

Brazil, February 4, 2012

Since four days ago, Police and Firemen of San Salvador de Bahia remain on strike calling for higher wages, prompting a wave of unprecedented violence and crime. To enhance security, Rousseff’s Government sent two thousand troops. 

The police strikes a few days before the start of the world’s most famous carnival, creating a situation of chaos in the city and that is why they finally had to send soldiers to control the situation.

The Argentine consul in Bahia, Jose Quijano, described to Radio 10 the state of the situation on the ground, arguing that “in a big city, in a time where some people steal tourists there should be more control, not less”.

He added “there are traffic problems and too many robberies. Even large groups of young people and children who usually are responsible for robbing tourists have been grouped, stopping cars and people on the street”.

“The restaurants, which are usually very full of tourists, were empty. It has not decreased the amount of people going to the beaches, but there is a climate of fear” he concluded.

The killings are also on the agenda. On Thursday, in five hours, seventeen people were killed and the number increased with the passage of time. In two days there were thirty-five homicides, according to information published by the newspaper A Tarde and provided by the Ministry of Public Security.

Among the most affected areas are Pituaçu, Ipitanga, Sete de Abril, Engomadeira, Madre de Deus, Jaguaribe, Bom Jua, Vila Canaria and Liberdade.