In Manaus, Army turns a ‘blind eye’ to six-day long antidemocratic protests

Marcela Leiros – From Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The Army Command of the Amazon (CMA), in Manaus, Amazonas, remains silent about the camp set up by supporters of antidemocratic acts in the external area of the institution. CENARIUM MAGAZINE asked the institution about the structures set up on the sidewalks of the institution, with chemical toilets, tents, and even hammocks, but got no response.

Since Wednesday, 2, the place was taken by the presence of people who do not accept the result of the election that confirmed the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to the Presidency of the Republic. Besides denying the result of the election, the protesters, dressed in green and yellow, also want the arrest of the president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Alexandre de Moraes, and military intervention.

Last week, the president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Minister Alexandre de Moraes, called the groups contesting Lula’s victory at the polls criminals. “Those who criminally are not accepting democracy will be treated as criminals and responsibilities will be ascertained”, he said.

Also read: Alexandre de Moraes says extremist protesters will be treated as criminals

Military intervention

The protesters allege, in groups on social networks, that the gathering and staying in front of the military command is a way to get the military to interfere in the election. The report inquired, via e-mail, if the presence of the protesters was authorized by anyone in the command, since it is a space bordering the military area, but there was no response from the Army.

The report team verified that tents, chemical toilets and even tents were set up to attend the protesters, since some of them spend the day and night at the site. In one of the tents installed on the sidewalk in front of the CMA, food and drinks, such as bread and water, are made available for those present. Besides men and women, children are also seen at the site.

The law says that inciting animosity between the Armed Forces and the Branches of Power, such as the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary, is considered, according to the Constitution, to be apology for military intervention. The practice is punishable by imprisonment for four to eight years, in addition to the penalty corresponding to the violence.

Read also: In AM, dissatisfied Bolsonarists organize riots and advocate military intervention in Brazil

Pães e água são oferecidos aos presentes. (Ricardo Oliveira/ Revista Cenarium)

Barbecue and hammock

Over the weekend, images of the situation in front of the CMA began to circulate on the networks. On the social network Twitter, the journalist Mario Adolfo shared images of what he called “shambles”. According to him, the environment is unhealthy and the smell of urine affects those who pass through the region. The photos posted by him also show a barbecue grill where meat is being roasted.

“Completely unhealthy environment in front of the CMA, in Ponta Negra, in Manaus. The Bolsonarists have transformed the area into an open-air pigsty. The odor of urine starts in the walkway of the Ponta Negra Shopping and spreads to the surroundings. All this with the connivance of many”, he said.

The presenter Ronaldo Tiradentes also shared, through social networks, how the supporters are staying on the sidewalk of the Amazon Military Command. In the image posted on Instagram, it is possible to see that a net was installed near the sign that warns: “Military area. Entry prohibited”. “Unbelievable”, he commented.