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After 52 Killed in Two Days, Police Strike Ends in Bahia

04/18/2014 - 13h01

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JOÃO PEDRO PITOMBO
FROM SALVADOR
ANDRÉ UZÊDA
SPECIAL ENVOY TO SALVADOR

Military Police from Bahia ended yesterday their strike, after nearly two days of work stoppage.

Following the strike there was an explosion of violence in the Great Salvador, the most affected area.

There were lootings and at least 52 people were killed in 46 hours, more than one person per hour. The daily average in the metropolitan Salvador area is five.

The population suffered with disruptions: buses were not running, shops closed and events were canceled.

The strike exposed once again the delicate relationship between the Bahia PM and the administration of Jaques Wagner (PT). It was the second Police strike in a little over two years.

As in the previous strike, the leader was the soldier Marco Prisco, now councilman in Salvador by PSDB political party, elected in the wake of the visibility achieved in 2012 and he is a pre-candidate for the Legislative Assembly.

Wagner, pointed out "election" interests in motion, and he denied giving in to pressure."What was signed today [yesterday] is almost the same as what was offered before the strike," he said.

The PM claimed increases in bonuses, guarantees for career progression and milder sanctions in the new code of ethics of the corporation, among others issues.

Government agreed to raise bonuses and open new discussion about ethics and a career plan. He also said he will review cases against MPs strike in 2012.

"We think much more in the society paying our salaries," said soldier Prisco, after about a thousand police approved the end of strike in assembly.

The strike this year was marked by the rapid action of the federal government, which says it had sent about 6,000 Army men and from the State National Force.

Justice Ministers, José Eduardo Cardozo and the Defence interim Juniti Saito, went to Salvador yesterday to plan the action of the troops, which should be in the state until the situation normalizes.

Wagner urged the Supreme Court for a more "clear position" on Armed Forces right to strike. "There is always risk of disorder prevailing."

Before the end of the strike, two court decisions determined the termination of the strike, under penalty of noncompliance.

Although the Constitution prohibits unions and military strike, police strike have occurred in Rio, Bahia and Ceará since 2012.

Politically, the mayor of Salvador, ACM Neto (DEM), who campaigned along side Prisco and Wagner's rival, said he wanted the strike to end.

Asked to comment on the work stoppage, Senator Aécio Neves (MG), national PSDB president, did not respond yesterday.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA

Read the article in the original language

Joel Silva/Folhapress
Military Police from Bahia ended yesterday their strike, after nearly two days of work stoppage
Military Police from Bahia ended yesterday their strike, after nearly two days of work stoppage

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