On 20 February, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro signed off on a Garantia da Lei e da Ordem (GLO) decree at the request of Ceará state governor Camilo Santana, allowing for the deployment of the armed forces to reinforce public security in Ceará.
Analysis:
Despite being legally banned from striking, some military police (PM) officers have been revolting in the north-eastern state of Ceará this week, demanding better pay. This is jeopardising the guarantee of public security in the state, as demonstrated on 19 February when a senator was injured by two gunshots fired by protestors outside a PM station, as well as raising questions about the state government’s control over its police force and the possible influence of ‘milícias’, paramilitary groups usually made up of members of the state public security forces, over the PM revolts.
- The armed forces will join reinforcements from the Força Nacional de Segurança Pública (FNSP) national guard and the federal road police, previously authorised by federal Justice & Public Security Minister Sérgio Moro in reaction to the shooting of Senator Cid Gomes (currently on congressional leave).
- Santana, who belongs to the left-wing opposition Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), thanked President Bolsonaro for the federal government’s support yesterday after his request for reinforcements through a GLO decree was met. The armed forces are due to reinforce public security in Ceará until 28 February.
- Mutiny from some members of the Ceará PM continues after representatives rejected an attempt to reach an agreement during a meeting with a committee of senators yesterday. Protesting PM officers reportedly have the backing of some local politicians.
- Supreme court (STF) justices Alexandre de Moraes and Ricardo Lewandowski have condemned the PM’s actions in Ceará as illegal and unconstitutional. Brazil’s constitution bans members of the armed forces from unionising and striking, a rule which extends to the PM and firefighting forces.
Looking Ahead: Although these police protests have been most disruptive in Ceará, there have been some in other states also with demands for salary increases being voiced by a number of PM forces (which all fall under the responsibility of state, not federal, governments). The concern now is that these demands might evolve into revolts and unrest in other states across the country.
