By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Defense Minister of Brazil, Raul Jungmann, detailed the plans for Operation Carioca on Tuesday (February 14th), which includes sending 9,000 armed forces to Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Carnival holiday period, initially until February 22nd.
This statement came after the announcement yesterday that the national armed forces would reinforce security on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, at the request from Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão to President Michel Temer.
Minister Jungmann spoke at a press conference held at the Duque de Caxias Palace, headquarters of the Eastern Military Command, in downtown Rio. “There is no lack of control or insufficiency of the public security organs to maintain the law of order,” he said.
“Unlike what happened in the Espírito Santo, there is no disorder. Ninety-five percent of the staff are on the streets. However, there is a need for preventive employment of the Armed Forces”, Jungmann added.
According to the minister, the term of the troops can be extended, and Jungmann also said that the armed forces will have police power. This will almost certainly be welcome new for residents and tourists as street crime has been on the rise and security is becoming an increasing concern.
Government news sources report that the Navy will patrol the capital, from the Centro to Leblon. The Army will work on the Trans-Olympic expressway, part of Avenida Brasil, alongside Niterói and São Gonçalo. The National Force and the Military Police will patrol the Legislative Assembly (ALERJ).
The demonstration currently occurring in Rio de Janeiro is similar to a movement carried out in Vitoria, Espírito Santo a week ago. Military battalion commanders in Rio de Janeiro admitted to local news media that there was some difficulties by officers in leaving for work in 30 of the 100 battalions located around the city.
The families in Rio de Janeiro demand payment of the officers’ 2016 Christmas bonus, usually given out by December 20th of each year. City officials have declared that the overdue bonuses will be paid by Tuesday, February 14th.