An arrest warrant issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF ( Supreme Federal Court), against a Bolsonarist indigenous leader, ended in acts of violence this Monday (12) in front of the Federal Police headquarters and in other points around Brasília, hours after the diplomation of the president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The Federal Police fulfilled the temporary arrest warrant against José Acácio Serere Xavante and took him to the corporation's headquarters, in Asa Norte.
The request came from the PGR (Office of the Prosecutor General), which pointed out the indigenous man as one of the members of the anti-democratic acts in the federal capital. José Acácio participated, among other acts, in one in front of the hotel where Lula is staying during the transition. Security was tightened at the site after the confrontation between Bolsonarists and the police began. With the presence of the prisoner in the building of the Federal Police, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) tried to break into the place. After being repelled by the police, the protesters went to other streets in the city and set fire to at least two buses and cars. They even destroyed light poles and tried to knock a bus off an overpass.
Dressed in yellow shirts and carrying Brazilian flags, Bolsonarists also smashed vehicles that were parked near the Federal Police building. Police officers who were at the scene reacted and there was turmoil at the scene. Bolsonarists threw stones, and stun bombs were thrown at them to try to contain the depredation. Protesters also spread to other points in the downtown region of Brasília, blocking roads with pieces of concrete, cones, and, at least at one point, a burnt-down bus.
The Military Police tried to contain the Bolsonarists with stun bombs. A helicopter was also used to search for protesters in dark areas. By 10 pm, there was still no exact knowledge of the number of vehicles destroyed.
In addition to the act in front of the hotel, the Federal Police investigation pointed José Acácio as one of those involved in anti-democratic acts at the National Congress, at Brasília International Airport, at Park Shopping, and at Esplanada dos Ministérios. According to the PGR (Office of the Prosecutor General), José Acácio uses his "position as chief of the Xavante People to enlist indigenous and non-indigenous people to commit crimes and persecute Lula and justices Alexandre de Moraes and Luís Roberto Barroso".
Translated by Cassy Dias