Salvador, Host City for the World Cup, Calls on Armed Forces After Military Police Strike and Looting

04/17/2014 - 08h58

The first day of the military police strike in Bahia yesterday caused chaos in the city of Salvador with looting and mass thefts affecting school activities as well as transportation.

The military police announced the strike the day before yesterday, less than two months before the opening of the World Cup. Salvador considered one of the main host cities will be hosting six games.

Governor Jaques Wagner (PT party) suggested the strike was politically motivated and asked for federal troop reinforcement that started arriving yesterday. 2500 members of the army and 250 members of the national forces will be mobilized.

The new government backed code of ethics is one of the main reasons for the strike, the second since 2012.

The draft document states that members of the military police can face disciplinary action in case they are included in debtor registrations or give press interviews.

With nobody policing the streets, crimes were committed well in to the early morning. Supermarkets and domestic appliance stores as well as small stores in the centre and surroundings were looted.

The situation worsened because the civil police was on a previously announced 24 hour strike and the municipal guards hardly went to the streets alleging "safety issues", according to the trade union.

The impact of the strike was already visible in the centre of Salvador by the morning. Many businesses remained closed and shopping malls reinforced security.

The scarce policing was run by special military units. In the Jardim de Alah neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city, eight young people were arrested for promoting mass thefts. Twenty six others were arrested on the suspicion of participating in looting.

Most buses were not running creating congested passenger lines at bus stops. Students were let off school and university. A Vitória game and a show representing the passion of Christ were cancelled.

A 16 year old student, Felipe Santos, waited for his bus for two hours. When it arrived the school was shut. "I should have stayed at home," he said.

The local justice said the strike was illegal and made a call to end it. The military police however maintained it until the early evening. According to the strike leaders, there was an 80% turnout.

The current strike, as well as the 2012 mobilization, were led by soldier Marco Prisco, city councillor for the PSDB.

Minister of Justice José Eduardo Cardozo said the strike was "clearly unconstitutional". "When the [demands] go against society, causing safety issues and social unrest, they cannot be considered legitimate."

Translated by MILLI LEGRAIN

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Carla Ornelas/SECOM-BA

Salvador, in Bahia, calls on Armed Forces after Military Police strike and looting