Justice Minister Claims Situation in Ceará State Now under Control

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Sérgio Moro, said on Monday, February 24th, during a visit to Fortaleza, that the federal government forces are in Ceará to “calm the mood” and that he hopes that the strike of part of the state police (PM) officers will soon be solved.

“The federal government is here to “calm the moods”, not to escalate them. Police officers from the whole country, not only from Ceará, are dedicated professionals who risk their lives, they are professionals who should be appreciated. It is the time to serve and protect, to calm the spirits. Serenity is essential, we have to get our heads straight and think about what it takes to get the police back to work,” Moro said.

According to Moro, the situation is under control. “It is not a situation of complete mayhem on the streets. People are walking in the streets. There is no looting, for one, or anything like that from stores. So the situation is under control. Of course, within a relatively difficult context where part of the state police is on strike,” he said.

GLO – Guarantee of Law and Order

Since February 20th, a Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO) operation led Armed Forces troops to Ceará. A group of 2,500 Army officers and 300 National Forces agents will work in the state for 30 days to strengthen security.

The Minister of Justice and Public Safety also stressed that the operation, decreed by President Jair Bolsonaro, at the request of Governor Camilo Santana, is in the state to “ensure the population’s protection in place of the police officers who have suspended their activities”.

Together with the Minister of Defense, General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, and the Federal Solicitor General, André Mendonça, the minister flew over the metropolitan region of Fortaleza by helicopter. Officials also met at the Abolição Palace with the governor, and earlier visited the 10th Military Region headquarters where they were briefed in detail on the activities being carried out by the Armed Forces and the federal, state and municipal public security bodies.

Breach of agreement

Governor Camilo Santana thanked the federal support and regretted that although meetings were held with the policemen’s labor union and an agreement was accepted, the police officers had retreated. “We sat down and negotiated with the police unions, who left the meeting pleased with what had been closed, we always allowed dialogue.

What we can’t allow is for security forces to do what they are doing, with hoods, balaclavas, with weapons that the Constitution has provided to protect society and they are threatening society. No one is above the law. We always accept to talk, but nobody is above the law,” Santana said.

Balance

Despite the strengthening in security, at least nine cities in Ceará have canceled their Carnaval programs. According to the State Secretariat of Public Safety, on Sunday alone, 25 new murders were reported in the state. Since Wednesday, February 19th, when the police mutiny began, there have been 147 violent deaths. The records include murders, femicides, injuries followed by death and armed robberies.

Source: Agência Brasil