Protests, strikes hit Brazil 28 days from World Cup

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Brazil faced a test of its security preparations for the World Cup on Thursday, May 15,  as demonstrators aghast at the cost of the event joined protests and strikes in several major cities.

Ongoing work stoppages by police and teachers and the threat of a nationwide strike by federal police also raised fears of chaos with just four weeks to go before the Cup kicks off.

In business hub Sao Paulo, about 5,000 members of the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST) set fire to car tires and marched to the Corinthians Arena, which will host the opening match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12.

Although most demonstrations were peaceful, police used teargas against group of masked demonstrators in Sao Paulo as tensions rose there around 7:00 pm (2200 GMT; 6:00 am Friday, Philippine time).

Other demonstrations took place in Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Porto Alegre and Rio.

Police put the total of protesters at around 10,000.

In the northeastern city of Recife, youths earlier took advantage of a partial strike by military police to loot stores and go on the rampage.

After blocking off several streets, Sao Paulo protesters held a rally about 300 meters (yards) from the stadium as they slammed a “World Cup without the people.”

Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at the forefront of efforts to win the country’s hosting rights seven years ago, criticized the “virulent” protests.

“The attacks against this event are becoming ever more sectarian and irrational,” Lula told Spanish daily El Pais, seeing a political dimension to the protests with general elections due in October.

FIFA in firing line

Many protesters vented their ire against world football body FIFA, viewed by many as only concerned with its own interests.

“FIFA go home to Switzerland,” “total tax exemption for FIFA and (Cup) sponsors,” “Cup of disgrace” and “Hey, FIFA, pay my fare” were some banners directed at the organization.

In Rio, proceedings rallied several hundred people, including young radicals but also retirees.

One masked protester surrounded by hooded black bloc radicals ostensibly burned a World Cup stickers book while marchers bore banners reading “Money for the Cup — none for salaries.”

Carlos Serrano, 32, told the Agence France-Presse (AFP): “I love soccer but beyond that there are other more important problems — the right to transport, health, education.”

Pedro Amarildo, 50, agreed.

“At first we thought it (the Cup) would benefit the people but it’s not turned out that way and that is why the people are unhappy,” he said in the capital Brasilia.

Back in Sao Paulo, MTST leader Guilherme Boulos threatened new protests during the World Cup if Brazil’s leaders do not address the demands of people such as the 1,500 families who have occupied a plot of land near the stadium.

Calling for public money to be spent on affordable housing instead of on stadiums, the families have baptized their new slum the “People’s Cup.”

“The clock is ticking: they have 28 days to resolve not only the People’s Cup but all the occupations that are fighting this. If it’s not resolved, there will be problems,” Boulos told journalists.

Brazil has spent more than $11 billion to organize the World Cup, money protesters say could have been better spent on areas such as transport, education, housing and health care.

The protests have shrunk in numbers since they embarrassed Brazil’s leaders last year by disrupting the Confederations Cup, a World Cup warmup tournament, but have also grown more radical.

Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said there was “no reason for any panic” and denied the protests and strikes had anything to do with the World Cup.

Traffic jams

Teachers, metalworkers and metro employees held separate protests in Sao Paulo.

Demonstrators blocked some of the main roads around the city and caused traffic jams of up to 150 kilometers (90 miles), according to transport officials.

Protest movements issued calls on social media for some 50 demonstrations in at least 10 of the 12 World Cup host cities.

One of the groups calling for protests was the Free Pass Movement, a student group whose demand for free public transport helped spark the million-strong street protests during the Confederations Cup.

Adding to the concern was a move by federal police to consider a nationwide strike during the World Cup.

Federal police officers oversee border security and immigration services and the strike threat comes with an estimated 600,000 foreign fans about to descend on the country. – Rappler.com