BRASILIA, Jan 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Security was boosted in Brasilia as backers of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro vowed fresh protests just days after riots that shocked the Brazilian capital.
Demonstrations called for several cities on Wednesday evening were slow to get started, however, with officers in anti-riot gear and helicopter backup left twiddling their thumbs for what had been billed as a major mobilization.
However, there was no turnout in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, nothing like the “gigantic” rally promised to “take power back” from Bolsonaro’s successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Eager to prevent a repeat of Sunday’s riots, authorities Wednesday blocked roads leading to the Esplanade of Ministries in the capital in anticipation of renewed unrest.
The esplanade houses all government ministries as well as the three buildings targeted in Sunday’s violent uprising.
In an invitation posted on social media, Bolsonaro backers were urged to turn out in Brasilia and other cities in a country left deeply divided by October elections in which Lula narrowly beat Bolsonaro.
Ever since Bolsonaro’s defeat, his most hard-core defenders have been clamoring for the military to launch a coup against Lula.
And on Sunday, hundreds of protestors clad in the yellow-and-green colors of the Brazilian flag – coopted by Bolsonaro and his backers as a symbol of nationalist fervor – stormed the symbolic seats of power.
Dubbed “fanatical fascists” by Lula, they clashed with police, beat up journalists, and left a trail of destruction in their wake.
Hundreds have been arrested and Brasilia has been quiet since police on Monday rounded up so-called “bolsonaristas” who had been camped out in the capital since October.
“All the public security forces are mobilised” to protect Brasilia from a repeat, deputy justice minister Ricardo Cappelli told reporters.
“There is no scenario under which the unacceptable events that occurred on the 8th (of January) will be repeated.”
Authorities are working to identify the organizers and financiers of the uprising.
Lula, who met members of Congress in Brasilia on Wednesday, described the protesters as “a group of crazy people who do not understand that the election is over.”
On Tuesday, authorities issued arrest warrants for two former senior officials over the riots, including Anderson Torres, who was Bolsonaro’s justice minister.
He was fired as Brasilia security chief, along with military police chief Fabio Augusto, after Sunday’s scenes.
While Augusto is reportedly already in custody, Torres is expected to arrive in Brazil soon from the United States.
Torres is charged with “omission” of his duties and “collusion” with the protesters.
Torres and Bolsonaro, also in the United States where he this week received medical care, have both denied any involvement in Sunday’s events.
More than 600 people out of an initial 1,500 detained following the riots remained under arrest Tuesday. — NNN-AGENCIES
