Rio Police Confirm Strike Plans: Daily
By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – As the Polícia Militar (Military Police) strike continues in the Salvador and the northeastern state of Bahia, the union representing the Polícia Civil (Civilian Police) force in Rio de Janeiro (SINPOL) gave official notice of their own proposed strike action, to commence on February 10th.
Security forces and supporters protesting in Copacabana on January 31st, photo by SINPOL.
According to SINPOL, Rio state government has a deadline of February 8th to open up negotiations with representatives from the Polícia Civil, Polícia Militar and the Bombeiros (Fire Service) if a strike is to be avoided.
SINPOL’s chairman, Commissioner Fernando Bandeira, said that thirty percent of the workforce would remain operational, in compliance with strike legislation, to provide a minimum level of protection for the population.
A general meeting has been scheduled between the three security forces on the eve of the proposed strike in Cinelândia at 6PM.
According to a statement issued yesterday by officials, the entry-level salary of an officer of Polícia Militar in Rio (PMERJ) starts at R$2,019.33. The salary budget of the police force went from R$916 million in 2006 to an estimated R$2.3 billion in 2012, an increase of 158 percent.
Also, governor Sérgio Cabral signed a decree on January 10th, increasing the frequency of promotions for officers, a measure that will benefit 17,829 officers immediately, adding R$75.5 million to the annual budget.
The tension is increasing as Rio watches the situation in Bahia, where a further thirteen people were killed yesterday, bringing the total number of homicides to 83 since the beginning of the strike last Wednesday.
Over 3,000 troops have been brought in by the federal government, and twelve arrest warrants have been issued against the police officers involved in the strike movement.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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Smart cops planning this during Carnaval when the entire world is watching and ready to criticize.
On another note, I will be stocking up on food and beverages and moving to the countryside
Hope all issues will be over before carnival
I am wondering if it is safe for a white Canadian to move to just east of Rio like I have been planing?
Is there anywhere in Brazil that is safe for a canadian to retire?
Please let me know where.
Thank you
Brad Haugen
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No! White canadians are the favorite pray of Brazilians.
It very much depends where you wanna go and what you want to do. Rio is for sure not the safest city in the world. But when you follow a few rules, you should be fine.
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