Brazil’s Civil War: 81 Killed, Hundreds of Hostages, Curfew Considered

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met this Monday, May 15, with the Minister of Justice, Márcio Thomaz Bastos, to discuss the measures that will be taken in reaction to a series of prison attacks in the state of São Paulo and other instances of violence.

One of the measures to contain the wave of violence in the state was announced this weekend. The minister of Justice placed the four thousand members of the National Force at the disposal of the São Paulo government to help in combating the violence.

The attacks began on Friday, May 12. and so far have left at least 81 people dead. Over 56 buses have been burned. There have been 180 attacks on government buildings and civil and military police posts around the state.

The fatal victims include more than 30 police officers. More than 4 thousand buses failed to circulate today in São Paulo out of fear of the wave of violence. 30% of students didn’t go to school. In some neighborhoods store owner afraid of violence closed their doors.

According to the State of São Paulo Bank Employees’ Union, around 18 bank branches have been targets of acts of vandalism since the attacks began. Some of the branches were set ablaze by Molotov cocktails.

Authorities had an emergency meeting in which they considered the imposition of a curfew starting at 8 pm this Monday. São Paulo governor Cláudio Lembo and his aides continued refuse to accept Federal help while saying that everything is under control when there all evidences to the contrary.

According to the latest partial reports, there were 82 rebellions in prisons throughout the state of São Paulo. In dozens of these jails the situation is still being controlled by the prisoners who are holding 273 hostages.

The attacks also spread to the states of Mato Grosso and Paraná, where prison rebellions occurred.

BrM, ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil Worried US Is After Its Oil and the Amazon

The imminent agreement between the United States and Colombia over the use of seven ...

South Korea Warms up to Brazil. They Are Interested in Meat and Ethanol.

A mission composed of South Korean technicians who belong to the Bilateral Agricultural Advisory ...

Being Born Still Too Dangerous in Brazil

Recent Brazilian statistics show that 74.5 women die in every 100 thousand live births. ...

Lula’s Chief of Staff Admits She’d Love to Succeed Her Boss

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s personal pick to succeed him in the ...

Chevron Expected to Pay US$ 100 Million in Fines for Spilling Oil Off Rio’s Coast

Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP), the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) ...

Machinery Exports Grow 7% in Brazil, But Trade Balance Is Negative

In Brazil, foreign sales correspond to 40% of the machinery and equipment sector’s revenues, ...

After 9% Growth in 2007, Construction in Brazil to Expand 10% This Year

Brazil's civil construction sector grew 9% last year and should grow another 10% this ...

Death Penalty: UN Backs Brazil and 9 Others’ Call for Executions Moratorium

Today the UN General Assembly endorsed the call for a worldwide moratorium on executions ...

LETTERS

They were practically unknown from people outside the jail system until they staged the ...

In Rural Brazil Many Watch World Cup for First Time Thanks to New Electricity

Brazil’s rural electrification program Luz para Todos (Electricity for Everyone), has now reached 3.3 ...