By Pedro Rafael on December 13, 2022
Federal Police headquarters, Brazilia
Bolsonarista demonstrators attacked the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília last night in protest of the arrest of chief Sererê Xavante, one of the leaders of the coup protests in the Federal District. According to the Federal Police (PF), Xavante was planning to carry out anti-democratic demonstrations in several places in Brasília, particularly in front of the National Congress, at the International Airport of Brasília (where protesters invaded the departure area), at the Park Shopping center, at the Esplanada dos Ministérios and in front of the hotel where the President and Vice-President-elect of the Republic are staying.
Lula and Geraldo Alckmin’s security was reinforced with the formation of a police cordon around the hotel. Riot police were called in to contain the Bolsonaristas. Some of them announced that “the war had begun”, in videos circulating in social networks.
The attack by the bolsonarista extremists transformed downtown Brasilia into a combat zone including the burning of buses and private cars. As a result, at the end of the night and beginning of the morning, public transportation was suspended. Workers returning from their jobs and university students were stranded and unable to return home.
The Central Student Directory of the University of Brasilia (CDE-UnB) opened its headquarters, at the Darcy Ribeiro campus, to house students who were unable to return home. A last-minute solidarity walk campaign was also carried out to guarantee the right to return home for night shift students.
The violent actions began at the Federal Police headquarters, in the center of the capital, when Tsererê Xavante, one of the leaders of the coup protests in the Federal District, whose arrest had been ordered by the Federal Police. Supreme Court of Justice (STF), at the request of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), precisely for promoting anti-democratic actions. After that, it spread to other places. The vandals are the same ones who have been camping for months at the Army Headquarters, in Brasília, from where they have been asking for military intervention.
Senator-elect Flávio Dino (PSB-MA), who will be Minister of Justice in the government of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), said that those responsible for anti-democratic acts in Brasília will be duly held accountable within the rigor of the Law. He also assured that the security of Lula, who is staying in a hotel in the center of the city, was not threatened. Security has been reinforced at the site.
“The acts of vandalism registered tonight, in Brasilia, by an enraged minority are absurd. The depredation of public and private property, as well as the blocking of roads, only serve to intensify the scenario of intolerance that permeated part of the electoral campaign. The public security forces must act to repress unjustified violence in order to restore the order and tranquility that we all need to move the country forward,” wrote the president of the Federal Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), on his social network.
Public Security Secretariat (SSP) reinforced by specialized troops said it only dispersed extremists and admitted that no one was arrested which is unusual when it comes to violent demonstrations in the capital.
“So far, no arrests have been made related to the civil unrest that occurred,” it said. Several videos on social media show people committing blatant acts of violence. Most do not even hide their faces during the actions.
Newly elected district deputy, Max Maciel (PSOL) questioned in a social network “if they were students protesting for a free pass or teachers protesting for better salaries, how long would the police have restrained themselves before attacking and making arrests?”.
“Why are none of the terrorists who caused chaos in Brasília no arrested? Who financed and is complicit in this coup attempt? Democracy demands answers!” federal deputy Érika Kokay (PT/DF) also asked on a social network.
The violent actions that began at the Federal Police Headquarters and after that and spread to other places were carried out by the same vandals who have been camping for months at the Army Headquarters, in Brasília, from where they are demanding military intervention. Some of these ultra-right militants were also yesterday at the Alvorada Palace, the official residence of the President of the Republic. They arrived and received refreshments sent by First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro. Many remain camped in Alvorada.