President of DF Legislative Assembly declares support for striking Rio firemen

The president of the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District (Brasilia), deputy Patricio (PT), who is also the head of a national association of enlisted military personnel (“praças”), has announced that he is mobilizing firemen from around the country to travel to Rio in a caravan to show support for the 439 Rio de Janeiro firemen who were arrested by the state governor, Sérgio Cabral.

On Friday, June 3, Rio de Janeiro firemen declared a strike and invaded the headquarters of the fire department [explanatory note: in Brazil firemen are considered military personnel; they form a separate military corporation from the Military Police and the Armed Forces]. The governor considered the action a breakdown of military discipline and ordered the arrest of the striking firemen who invaded the headquarters. A total of 439 firemen were taken into custody.

In a statement, deputy Patricio declared: “In all states where there were recent strikes by police and firemen there were arrests, as happened in Rio. However, at this time, all the governors have released the strikers, except in Rio. Therefore, on Wednesday, June 8, we will begin to mobilize military policemen and firemen from the whole country. We will travel to Rio in a caravan and negotiate with the governor. This is no longer a Rio issue, it is a Brazil issue.”