At Rio's Request, Temer Increases Military Presence at Olympics
On Monday (8), interim president Michel Temer addressed a request by governor of Rio, Francisco Dornelles, to authorize the increase military presence at the Olympics and Paralympics.
The initiative was published in an extra edition of the Official Journal of the Union and includes expanding military presence to areas in the central and south zones, such as Copacabana and São Cristovão, and areas such as Santos Dumont airport, Candelária, Aterro do Flamengo, and the area surrounding Atlantic Avenue.
Last week, the governor of Rio pointed at the lack of an effective police force to protect the area, which is hosting tourists during the athletic competition.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the expansion will not involve an increase to the number of active servicemen in the Armed Forces, which today is composed of an estimated 22,000 people.
Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ