“Cursed the soldier that points his gun against his people” – Simon Bolívar
Meanwhile in Rio de Janeiro…
Last updated: 31 July, at 11:00 AM.
On this Monday, 22 July, Brazilian police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of protesters in Rio de Janeiro rallying against the vast amount of public funds spent on Pope Francis’ visit to the country. Read more: The Guardian.
Failed security scheme: at the Pope’s arrival to Rio downtown Pope’s car gets stuck in traffic and ends surrounded by the people.
The demonstration was held on Monday near the Rio state governor’s palace after a meeting there between the pope and Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff. One photographer suffered a head injury after being clubbed by a riot police officer and at least five protesters were arrested, included two jornalists from the media known as “ninja media” – a group of activists who use handheld cameras to publicize videos with the truth of the protests in Brazil on the Internet about the cop violence and corruption in government.
In the photo at right, French agency photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba was injured in his head by a policeman while was shooting the arrest of a protester. “I saw a protester fall to the ground. Cops grabbed him and took him. I was taking photos when I was suddenly pushed by other officers. So I raised my arms with my camera to show that I was a photographer and had peaceful intentions but a cop uniform and shield hit me in the head with his truncheon”, he said. See the photo of Yasuyoshi Chiba:
Updated: On this Tuesday, 26, and Friday, 27, protesters in São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and other cities in the Brazil, in solidarity with the people of Rio de Janeiro, overwhelmed by the dictatorial government of Sergio Cabral and his violent police repression came out to the streets calling for the output of the Governor of Rio de Janeiro and demilitarization of the Military Police, who still works so repressive as in the days of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1983. See the videos below to understand a little more how the police act to prevent the constitutional right to freedom of expression and press freedom in Brazil.
New protests are scheduled for this weekend and a general standstill of the country is being organized for September 7th, Brazil’s Independence Day.
This is the same police force that will take care of your security during the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016, the same police you see here attacking journalists, shooting at civilians and killing innocent citizens in the poorest communities like Amarildo (see below who is Amarildo). Do you still want to come to Brazil to the World Cup and Olympics? OK, the choice is yours.
Protesters burn doll symbolizing the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, accused of ordering police violence during demonstrations.
A P2 – a policeman without uniform – helping a colleague to arrest a young man during protests in Rio de Janeiro against government spending with the visit of Pope Francis.
Update: See this article posted in the New York Times site.
The Brazilian government has spent US$ 52 million in public funds for the Pope’s week-long visit to the country, which is his first trip abroad after becoming head of the Catholic Church in March. The pope’s arrival to Brazil came just weeks after the country experienced a series of protests against government corruption and public spending for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. The protesters argued that the government should instead spend public funds on health, education and other public services.
Where’s Amarildo???
Amarildo de Souza, 47 Years, father of 6 Children, worker and resident of the Favela da Rocinha is gone, becoming one more political victim of the false Brazilian Democracy. The last time Amarildo was seen he was being conducted by police on Sunday night (14 July 2013) for the Pacifying Police Unit, the UPP Rocinha.
The Rio de Janeiro police is the biggest killer in the world. For the Brazilian people is necessary repression and impartial investigation into the criminal liability of bad cops who forge false resistances in order to camouflage the real homicide qualified and exterminate human lives so cowardly of slum dwellers in their operations. There’s no human rights in Brazil, this is FACT. Amarildo is now just another number in the unkind statistic of missings during police operations in the poorer communities of Rio de Janeiro.
Sunday, 28 July: Dozens of protesters are camping in front of the street where lives the Governor of de Rio de Janeiro, Sérgio Cabral. The protesters claim the impeachment of the Governor and want answers of what happen with Amarildo de Souza. (#OcupaCabral)
After the Feast of FIFA Confederation Cup, now the Feast of Pope
Pope’s visit to Brazil will cost 156 million dollars. About 70 percent will come from donations and private funds, but US$ 52 million will come from public funds of Prefecture, State Government and Federal Government:
Prefecture: US$ 12 million
State Government: US$ 12 million
Federal Government: US$ 28 million
All this money could be used to build 2300 popular houses at a cost of US$ 22 400 each.
Public money thrown in the mud: Were not enough the R$ 118 million spent by governments on the Pope’s visit to Brazil, the stage set on a plot in Guaratiba for the last Mass of Pope Francis was destroyed and the land flooded by rain. The Mass was moved to Copacabana.
Hundred of pilgrims sleeping rough: The group would sleep in Guaratiba, but space flooded even after waterproofing works and made the event organizers to transfer the program to Copacabana. Thus, thousands of pilgrims had to remain in the streets in makeshift camps.
The Church will pocket about 62 million dollars with the inscriptions through an audience initial of 450,000 people, but that number could reach 800 thousand people. The church will pay only the structure of the event and hosting. The Church is very rich and could afford the entire event alone. To justify the spending, governments talk of return that the event will bring – like the Olympics and World Cup – by the presence of many visitors in town, and show random number without any scientific basis. Who will profit is the Catholic Church. The rest is scamming. More about the protests in Brazil, click on the links below:
WHAT’S REALLY BEHIND THE BRAZILIAN RIOTS
EDITORIAL: NO, I’M NOT GOING TO THE WORLD CUP
All That I Love 