By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the threat of serious public security disruption, Brazil’s President, Michel Temer, has signed a decree authorizing federal intervention in the Amazon region state of Roraima.
According to Temer the intervention was a ‘negotiated solution’ between Roraima’s governor, Suely Campos and the federal government.
The state has been receiving thousands of Venezuelan refugees and has not paid public servants since October, including security officials working in penitentiaries.
“I called the governor, told the entire problem of wages and said that the solution was the intervention, to which she agreed,” Temer stated on Friday after announcing the decision.
“The governor thought that, in fact, if there was no other solution, she would make this kind of sacrifice, leaving the government before (end of term), in order to solve this matter,” Temer added.
The federal intervention in the state officially begins on Monday (December 10th) and will end on December 31st. President Temer designated governor-elect, Antonio Oliverio Garcia de Almeida, known as Antonio Denarium, to be in charge of the intervention.
Roraima’s governor-elect stated over the weekend that he will ask President Temer for funds to pay the state’s civil servants, provide lunch and school transportation, and replenish prescription drugs in the public health system.
According to the intervention rules, Denarium will be subordinated to the President and not subject to state rules that conflict with the necessary measures to the intervention.
The federal government decided on the intervention after state prison officials stopped working and civilian police launched a 72-hour standoff due to months of back pay.
Military police, who by law cannot strike, were unable to leave the garrisons after crowds of military wives blocked the entry and exit of army battalions as a form of protest.