Brazil’s Defense Minister Wants Greater Military Presence in the Amazon

Brazil’s Minister of Defense and vice president, José Alencar, says that there should be a greater presence of Brazilian Armed Forces in the Amazon region, along with more funding for Army, Air Force and Navy activities there.

Alencar called the Amazon the Ministry of Defense’s most important area. Speaking to an audience of military personnel and students at the First Seminar on National Defense in the Amazon (1º Seminário Defesa Nacional em Debate: Amazônia), he declared he would discuss the issue with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Alencar said the development of the Amazon was urgent and that the 13 million inhabitants of the region get little assistance.

The Defense Minister said the nation and the Congress must recognize that a large part of what assistance there is in the Amazon comes from a small group of dedicated men and women in the Armed Forces.

"We need to provide more funding so that those who care for the Amazon can work with efficiency," said Alencar.

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Why Is Brazil Press So Infatuated with Marina Silva’s Candidacy?

Brazilian senator Marina Silva, from Acre state’s Workers Party (PT) was featured on major ...

Brazil’s Natural Gas Fleet Close to 1 Million

Prior to the end of 2005, it is possible that the target set by ...

It’s Time Brazil Learn Killing Drug Dealers Is Not the Answer

The cost of treating  someone addicted to drugs in Brazil is  around  US$ 500,00 ...

Brazil’s Petrobras Sets New Record in Oil Production

In an official note issued on Friday, May 26, Brazilian state-onwed oil company Petrobras ...

Gang Attacks Go On in Brazil for Second Night

The third wave of attacks against civilian and military targets attributed to the First ...

Brazil’s Lula Leaves Today for G8 Summit

According to professor Eiti Sato, of the University of BrasÀ­lia Department of International Relations, ...

São Paulo, Brazil, Finds Out It’s Not Easy to Be Green

Brazilian merchant Lizete Araújo da Silva, 51, has worked for approximately ten years in ...

Brazil Police Suspected of Shooting Journalist Covering Police Corruption

Paris-based freedom of press organization Reporters Without Borders is urging Brazilian authorities to lose ...

RAPIDINHAS

Brazil and all other nations that speak Portuguese are once again bracing for an ...

Brazil Is Back to Square One on Its Dispute with AIDS Drug Maker Abbott

The expensive prices of the HIV/AIDS drugs charged by international laboratories may jeopardize the ...