RIO POLICE FIRED tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protesting youths, after tens of thousands rallied in major Brazilian cities against the huge costs of hosting the 2014 World Cup.
In the country’s largest protests in 20 years, more than 200,000 people marched across the country to vent their anger at government’s lavish spending in demonstrations initially triggered by a hike in bus fares.
In Rio de Janeiro, where some 100,000 people marched, riot police were forced to use tear gas and fire rubber bullets to disperse youths who set cars on fire, broke bank windows and raided stores overnight Monday to Tuesday.
Small groups of masked youths also engaged in acts of vandalism near Rio’s state legislative assembly. Authorities said at least five policemen were hurt in the unrest.
Acts of vandalism were also reported in Porto Alegre, and a 18-year-old youth was reported in stable condition in a Belo Horizonte hospital after falling from an overpass during the protest.
The protests tapped widespread resentment over the huge costs of hosting the Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup, while this emerging country struggles to breach the chasm between the haves and the have-nots.
Police take cover behind shields in Rio.
Protesters outside the Brazilian National Congress in Brasilia.
In the capital Brasilia, more than 200 youths briefly occupied the roof of the National Congress. After negotiations with police, a boisterous crowd agreed to leave, chanting and waving placards as security forces ringed the building.
Later, an estimated 5,000 youths formed a human chain around Congress. Police increased security around the building and the presidential palace.
In São Paulo, the country’s economic capital and most populous city, an estimated 65,000 staged a generally peaceful march, with no repetition of the violence that marred similar protests last week.
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Demonstrators lit a small fire outside the state governor’s office but police, who generally kept a low profile, barred them from entering the premises.
“Peaceful demonstrations are legitimate,” said President Dilma Rousseff in a bid to calm tempers. “It is natural for the young to demonstrate,” she said in a statement posted on the presidency’s blog.
Protesters march in São Paulo.
A demonstrator in Rio de Janeiro poses for the cameras.
Diyo Coelho, 20, who marched with friends carrying flowers in São Paulo, said he was protesting for a myriad of reasons.
“I came because I want Brazil to wake up. It’s not just to protest the higher transport fares, but also because of shortcomings in education and health,” he said.
Daiana Venancio, a 24-year-old lawyer marching in Rio, echoed those sentiments.
“I am here to show that Brazil is not just about football and partying. We have other concerns, like the lack of investments in things that really matter, like health and education,” she said.
Some 30,000 protesters marched in Belo Horizonte, 10,000 did so in Curitiba and another 10,000 in Belem. Smaller demonstrations were held in Fortaleza, Salvador and other cities, including Porto Alegre where some 3,000 demonstrators marched outside the City Hall.
Police there intervened after acts of vandalism by youths who set a bus on fire.
Earlier, Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo warned that that authorities would not allow the protests to disrupt international football tournaments Brazil has pledged to host.
“The government assumed the responsibility and the honor to stage these two international events and will do so, ensuring the security and integrity of the fans and tourists,” Rebelo said.
A tear gas canister is kicked away.
Vandalised cash machines in Rio.
The spreading unrest is unwelcome news for South America’s dominant power as it hosts the Confederation Cup through June 30, a dry run for the World Cup. The tournament brings together eight national teams from around the world in six Brazilian host cities.
The protests were triggered by a hike in mass transit fares that began more than a week ago in São Paulo.
The unrest rapidly spread to other cities, with demonstrators also focusing on $15 billion the government is allocating for the two football events. The demonstrators want these resources to be earmarked instead for health care and quality education.
On Saturday, around a thousand protesters managed to break through a security perimeter and protest outside the gate of Brasilia’s national stadium during the Confederations Cup’s opening game, in which Brazil trounced Japan 3-0.
A policeman uses pepper spray in Rio.
The next day, 3,000 people tried to break into Rio’s renovated Maracana stadium where Italy defeated Mexico 2-1.
The disturbances come as Brazil reported anemic growth (0.6 percent in the first quarter) while inflation reached an annualized 6.5 percent in May, the upper limit of the official target.
The disappointing economic indicators have dented Rousseff’s popularity, particularly among the youngest and wealthiest Brazilians, recent polls show.
Look at that ‘James Hunt’ of a copper on the bottom pic completely drenching the face of that poor woman with pepper spray.
Was that spray really necessary?
Could that poor woman look any more inoffensive or non-threatening?
I’m here in São Paulo (please correct spelling in article) it’s not just the $R3.20 transport cost 20 centavos increase that’s the problem. The problem is the corruption and the money grabbers and the ‘Brazilian way’ attitude that the country stereotypes it’s self on. The young people of this wonderful country have woken up and are trying to show that change is needed! About 3 months worth of brazilians salary is paid to the government, so essentially you work 3 months to pay the president and government!!! The amount of money spent on the world cup is shocking considering you see a lot of people living on the street and kids asking you for food nearly everyday, substandard health care and lack of Education facilities. The World Cup will be interesting to see in Brasil! I’m personally looking forward to it, despite the waste of money it is.
Irish people on the lower rate of Income Tax pay 20% a year, working out at two-and-a-half months per year, not much different to the Brazilian rate – and that’s before you include things like the Universal Social Charge and VAT. Yet we haven’t seen such large-scale processes here. Yet.
I think it comes down to the fact that countries with a Scandinavian society model are happy enough to pay high rates of tax because their public services work efficiently. Brazilians, and Irish people, on the other hand, get the short straw – they resent paying taxes, because many of the public services are simply shoddy. For example, private health insurance, for those who can afford it, in both countries, is a must have if you want to get decent health care.
When it comes to education in Brazil, there is a paradox where the best universities in the country are publicly-funded. But in order for their kids to enter them, parents have to fork out substantial tuition fees to private primary and secondary schools, as there is so little investment in the public education system. Meanwhile, poorer people who want to get better qualifications, end up working full time on leaving school, and studying in fee-paying private universities by night.
As you say Pádraig, the 20 cent price increase was just the tip of the iceberg. Where you at the protests yourself last night?
The youths who occupied the Congresso Nacional were more than a few hundred and according to the live News câmeras at the time when they decided to leave they left cleaning what ever mess was left behind with them. There are photos and vídeos all over the internet showing them to number more than 10,000 people.
Regarding the world cup stadiums:
In six years, since the country’s bid, the increase in public spending amounts to 200% – not counting inflation.
Only in the current renovations of the Maracanã, stadium R$ 1,2 billion have been invested, equivalent to 57% of what had been predicted in investment for the 12 stadiums in the initial BID to FIFA in 2007. In a report in April, the state court of public account (TCU) estimated that there had been a US$ 7.1 billion investment in the sector. In the budget presented for the Brazilian candidacy, R$ 2.1 billion was the estimated cost of the creation and renovation of stadiums in the country. This value, which was defended by the government at the time, would come entirely from the private sector. Today, the reality is the state accounts for over 97% of the funds invested in the arenas, and only three stadiums are funded in part by private investment. It is worth remembering that more than half of the money used to build stadiums (US$ 3.75 billion) comes from the BNDES (National Bank of development).
There will be more protests and they are a little misjointed with many demands and aims. They will be successful if the rest of the population joins them (Unions, Poor people, Army and Public servants). Then maybe there will be some change. Looking forward to the next protest as I will be there.
From what I understand, when Brazil was awarded the hosting rights of the World Cup, FIFA and the Brazilian government promised that the stadiums themselves would be funded by private investors, while the dividend for the public was to be an increased investment into projects such as improved public transport.
A few years down the line, the private investors had to be bailed out with public money earmarked for public transport projects, as the stadium construction was falling behind schedule. As the construction had to be speeded up, it was then costing more money. There have been allegations of corruption in the tendering process too. So when public transport fares increaded recently without any improvement, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
This generation of Brazilians, despite an abysmal public education system at primary and secondary level, are very well informed, while they would have no memory of life under dictatorship. The risk with these protests, perhaps like in Turkey, is that their claims are too disparate and vague, their organisation too haphazard – a politician was complaining that when he offered to meet with the protest leaders to discuss their grievances in São Paulo he couldn’t find a spokesperson/leader.
An analogy could be drawn with Ireland: private investors investing in projects that were “too big to fail” messed up, leading to a government bailout and deteriorating, yet more expensive, public services.
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15 billion for 2 tournaments?
There are actually 3 tournaments (Confederations Cup). Still crazy though!!
Look at that ‘James Hunt’ of a copper on the bottom pic completely drenching the face of that poor woman with pepper spray.
Was that spray really necessary?
Could that poor woman look any more inoffensive or non-threatening?
I’m here in São Paulo (please correct spelling in article) it’s not just the $R3.20 transport cost 20 centavos increase that’s the problem. The problem is the corruption and the money grabbers and the ‘Brazilian way’ attitude that the country stereotypes it’s self on. The young people of this wonderful country have woken up and are trying to show that change is needed! About 3 months worth of brazilians salary is paid to the government, so essentially you work 3 months to pay the president and government!!! The amount of money spent on the world cup is shocking considering you see a lot of people living on the street and kids asking you for food nearly everyday, substandard health care and lack of Education facilities. The World Cup will be interesting to see in Brasil! I’m personally looking forward to it, despite the waste of money it is.
I stopped reading after your pedantic opening sentence
Well if you’ve studied for 4 years to be a journalist you can at least get a spelling right ? Knob
Irish people on the lower rate of Income Tax pay 20% a year, working out at two-and-a-half months per year, not much different to the Brazilian rate – and that’s before you include things like the Universal Social Charge and VAT. Yet we haven’t seen such large-scale processes here. Yet.
I think it comes down to the fact that countries with a Scandinavian society model are happy enough to pay high rates of tax because their public services work efficiently. Brazilians, and Irish people, on the other hand, get the short straw – they resent paying taxes, because many of the public services are simply shoddy. For example, private health insurance, for those who can afford it, in both countries, is a must have if you want to get decent health care.
When it comes to education in Brazil, there is a paradox where the best universities in the country are publicly-funded. But in order for their kids to enter them, parents have to fork out substantial tuition fees to private primary and secondary schools, as there is so little investment in the public education system. Meanwhile, poorer people who want to get better qualifications, end up working full time on leaving school, and studying in fee-paying private universities by night.
As you say Pádraig, the 20 cent price increase was just the tip of the iceberg. Where you at the protests yourself last night?
Can’t wait for the World Cup. South American held competitions never seem to fail to deliver. Come on Ireland!
In the unlikely event that we actually qualify :)
The youths who occupied the Congresso Nacional were more than a few hundred and according to the live News câmeras at the time when they decided to leave they left cleaning what ever mess was left behind with them. There are photos and vídeos all over the internet showing them to number more than 10,000 people.
Regarding the world cup stadiums:
In six years, since the country’s bid, the increase in public spending amounts to 200% – not counting inflation.
Only in the current renovations of the Maracanã, stadium R$ 1,2 billion have been invested, equivalent to 57% of what had been predicted in investment for the 12 stadiums in the initial BID to FIFA in 2007. In a report in April, the state court of public account (TCU) estimated that there had been a US$ 7.1 billion investment in the sector. In the budget presented for the Brazilian candidacy, R$ 2.1 billion was the estimated cost of the creation and renovation of stadiums in the country. This value, which was defended by the government at the time, would come entirely from the private sector. Today, the reality is the state accounts for over 97% of the funds invested in the arenas, and only three stadiums are funded in part by private investment. It is worth remembering that more than half of the money used to build stadiums (US$ 3.75 billion) comes from the BNDES (National Bank of development).
There will be more protests and they are a little misjointed with many demands and aims. They will be successful if the rest of the population joins them (Unions, Poor people, Army and Public servants). Then maybe there will be some change. Looking forward to the next protest as I will be there.
Its the mainstream media’s job to misinform.
From what I understand, when Brazil was awarded the hosting rights of the World Cup, FIFA and the Brazilian government promised that the stadiums themselves would be funded by private investors, while the dividend for the public was to be an increased investment into projects such as improved public transport.
A few years down the line, the private investors had to be bailed out with public money earmarked for public transport projects, as the stadium construction was falling behind schedule. As the construction had to be speeded up, it was then costing more money. There have been allegations of corruption in the tendering process too. So when public transport fares increaded recently without any improvement, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
This generation of Brazilians, despite an abysmal public education system at primary and secondary level, are very well informed, while they would have no memory of life under dictatorship. The risk with these protests, perhaps like in Turkey, is that their claims are too disparate and vague, their organisation too haphazard – a politician was complaining that when he offered to meet with the protest leaders to discuss their grievances in São Paulo he couldn’t find a spokesperson/leader.
An analogy could be drawn with Ireland: private investors investing in projects that were “too big to fail” messed up, leading to a government bailout and deteriorating, yet more expensive, public services.
Hah! Get out of this one Blatter and your blazers. Then try and get out if the Qatar one without playing the World Cup in January.