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On 11 November, for the first time, the Brazilian Armed Forces released its opinion on the demonstrations taking place in front of the barracks and other units of the country’s armed forces. The commanders of the three Armed Forces (Air Forces, Army and Navy) released a note in which they condemn both what they classify as “possible restrictions on the rights” of those who criticize public agents, and “possible excesses committed” by protesters who do not accept the result of the presidential elections.
Criticisms Against Court Decision to Remove Demonstrators
Signed by Admiral Almir Garnier Santos (Navy); by General Marco Antônio Freire Gomes (Army) and Lieutenant-Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior (Aeronautics), the note released was seen by political commentators as a way to covertly criticize Federal Supreme Court (STF) orders that determine the withdrawal of demonstrators, who have been protesting near barracks in several cities for two weeks.
Wave of Protests
The demonstrations appeared after the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the presidency. They began on federal highways and were repressed due to problems caused to logistics in the country. The STF had to force, through a court order, the unblocking of highways after demonstrators carried out total interdictions in several states. Trucks used to block the roads and people responsible for the acts were fined. Alternatively, people started to gather in front of barracks. Protesters do not accept the result of the polls and believe that the elections have been rigged. They ask for a military coup.
Support of Other Generals
In another letter published on 15 November, reserve General Villas Boas show support to the demonstrations that request a coup. He says that the population continues to crowd around the doors of the barracks asking the Armed Forces for help and that protestors remain there “with incredible persistence, but with an absolutely peaceful spirit”. In the letter, Villas Boas also questions what he considers the silence of the press in the face of the demonstrations. “Perhaps our journalists believe that, ignoring the demonstration of millions of people, they will disappear (…). Fully controlled media in Iron Curtain countries did not prevent the fall of the Berlin Wall,” he wrote.
A few other reserve Generals showed support to the protests such as Paulo Chagas.
Other Security Forces
Members of other security forces have also been seen committing acts of support to the protests against Lula’s elections, particularly, Military Police officers from São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Paraná. In addition to members of the Federal Highway Police (PRF). President Jair Bolsonaro, a reserve Army Captain, is quite popular among members of the security forces.
