This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/26/brazil-protests
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brazil's left and right struggle for ownership of protests | Brazil's left and right struggle for ownership of protests |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Rival organisations behind Brazil's huge street demonstrations are struggling for control amid conflicting views about the political direction the movement should take. | Rival organisations behind Brazil's huge street demonstrations are struggling for control amid conflicting views about the political direction the movement should take. |
| With further action planned for Wednesday evening, the leftwing groups who initiated the marches suspect opposition parties are trying to hijack the protests and use them as a platform to challenge president Dilma Rousseff's government before next year's presidential election. | With further action planned for Wednesday evening, the leftwing groups who initiated the marches suspect opposition parties are trying to hijack the protests and use them as a platform to challenge president Dilma Rousseff's government before next year's presidential election. |
| The protesters have proved a formidable political force, notching up victory after victory in the past week and forcing Rousseff's Workers' Party and regional leaders into a series of concessions. But the scale has ebbed in recent days. Although demonstrations continue on a daily basis in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and dozens of other cities, they are on a smaller scale than last Thursday's march of more than a million. | The protesters have proved a formidable political force, notching up victory after victory in the past week and forcing Rousseff's Workers' Party and regional leaders into a series of concessions. But the scale has ebbed in recent days. Although demonstrations continue on a daily basis in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and dozens of other cities, they are on a smaller scale than last Thursday's march of more than a million. |
| The vast majority of marches have been unified, but there have been a few shouting matches between rival groups competing to set the ideological direction of the protests. Some would like a stronger focus on inequality and improving conditions in favelas. Others are pushing for tax cuts and a crackdown on corrupt officials. | The vast majority of marches have been unified, but there have been a few shouting matches between rival groups competing to set the ideological direction of the protests. Some would like a stronger focus on inequality and improving conditions in favelas. Others are pushing for tax cuts and a crackdown on corrupt officials. |
| In online chat rooms and microblogs, there is speculation that police are using agents provocateurs to stir up violence and pave the way for a coup. Evidence for that is scant, but differences have become more apparent. Groups such as Anonymous are calling for a period of reflection, and arranged workshops and public meetings in Rio this week to discuss where to go next. | In online chat rooms and microblogs, there is speculation that police are using agents provocateurs to stir up violence and pave the way for a coup. Evidence for that is scant, but differences have become more apparent. Groups such as Anonymous are calling for a period of reflection, and arranged workshops and public meetings in Rio this week to discuss where to go next. |
| But several organisations that are closer to the right pressed ahead with smaller gatherings on Monday and urged more on Thursday. Two of them, Organisation Opposed to Corruption and Online Revolution, advocate the return of militarism, according to an article on the Estado de São Paulo website. This followed tension in São Paulo during last Thursday's march when some groups burned the flags of the Workers Party. | But several organisations that are closer to the right pressed ahead with smaller gatherings on Monday and urged more on Thursday. Two of them, Organisation Opposed to Corruption and Online Revolution, advocate the return of militarism, according to an article on the Estado de São Paulo website. This followed tension in São Paulo during last Thursday's march when some groups burned the flags of the Workers Party. |
| "We live in a democracy and this reaction is a kind of nationalism taken to an extreme. I fear this may be hidden fascism," said Talita Saito, a 21-year-old law student at the protest. | "We live in a democracy and this reaction is a kind of nationalism taken to an extreme. I fear this may be hidden fascism," said Talita Saito, a 21-year-old law student at the protest. |
| Such incidents have so far been on the fringes. More positive is the sign of a new political debate that has been stirred up by formerly apathetic multitudes who are turning out in vast numbers to peacefully back the protests. | Such incidents have so far been on the fringes. More positive is the sign of a new political debate that has been stirred up by formerly apathetic multitudes who are turning out in vast numbers to peacefully back the protests. |
| But those who initiated the protests in support of cheap public transport are uneasy that part of the movement has morphed towards a campaign for lower taxes. | But those who initiated the protests in support of cheap public transport are uneasy that part of the movement has morphed towards a campaign for lower taxes. |
| A major reason for the success of last week's marches was that the organisers rejected affiliation with political parties. The amorphous movement embraced frustrations felt across the political spectrum, many of them brought into relief by the Confederations Cup. | A major reason for the success of last week's marches was that the organisers rejected affiliation with political parties. The amorphous movement embraced frustrations felt across the political spectrum, many of them brought into relief by the Confederations Cup. |
| After last Thursday's march, the huge range of motivations was evident in the hand-written placards pinned on to the walls – "Schools not Stadiums", "70bn in Corruption", "End Police Violence", "Stop PEC 37" (a bill that would weaken the power of the public minister to investigate official wrongdoing) and "No to the Gay Cure" (a reference to evangelical politician Marco Feliciano's call for Brazil's medical establishment to treat homosexuality as a disease. | After last Thursday's march, the huge range of motivations was evident in the hand-written placards pinned on to the walls – "Schools not Stadiums", "70bn in Corruption", "End Police Violence", "Stop PEC 37" (a bill that would weaken the power of the public minister to investigate official wrongdoing) and "No to the Gay Cure" (a reference to evangelical politician Marco Feliciano's call for Brazil's medical establishment to treat homosexuality as a disease. |
| In recent days, Rousseff – a former student radical – has talked to organisers and responded to some of their concerns. On Monday, she promised a referendum on political reform, tighter penalties for corruption, a 50bn real (£15bn) programme for public transport and more support for healthcare and education. Another concession was won from legislators, who dropped the PEC 37 bill.The groups behind the protests say Rousseff's promises are too vague and fall short of demands they have regarding evictions of residents for mega-events, excessive police violence (seen on Tuesday in a raid on the Maré favela in Rio that left at least nine people dead) and wider issues of inequality and environmental destruction. | In recent days, Rousseff – a former student radical – has talked to organisers and responded to some of their concerns. On Monday, she promised a referendum on political reform, tighter penalties for corruption, a 50bn real (£15bn) programme for public transport and more support for healthcare and education. Another concession was won from legislators, who dropped the PEC 37 bill.The groups behind the protests say Rousseff's promises are too vague and fall short of demands they have regarding evictions of residents for mega-events, excessive police violence (seen on Tuesday in a raid on the Maré favela in Rio that left at least nine people dead) and wider issues of inequality and environmental destruction. |
| A statement by the Passe Libre group said the government has to do more to rein in paramilitary police, who have shot protesters with rubber bullets and used teargas indiscriminately. "There is an urgent need to demilitarise the police and put in place a national policy to regulate less lethal weapons, which are banned in many countries and condemned by international bodies," the group said. | A statement by the Passe Libre group said the government has to do more to rein in paramilitary police, who have shot protesters with rubber bullets and used teargas indiscriminately. "There is an urgent need to demilitarise the police and put in place a national policy to regulate less lethal weapons, which are banned in many countries and condemned by international bodies," the group said. |
| Alan Fragoso, one of the organisers of the Fórum de Lutas group that initiated the protests, said the demonstrations would continue. "Even if the protesters do not have full political consciousness we must seize the moment to promote the inclusion of political debate in the daily life of Brazilians," he said. | Alan Fragoso, one of the organisers of the Fórum de Lutas group that initiated the protests, said the demonstrations would continue. "Even if the protesters do not have full political consciousness we must seize the moment to promote the inclusion of political debate in the daily life of Brazilians," he said. |
| In response to Rousseff's promises and concerns about the vandalism that followed clashes with police, the organisers plan to set new guidelines for the protests. | In response to Rousseff's promises and concerns about the vandalism that followed clashes with police, the organisers plan to set new guidelines for the protests. |
| One question will be how the movement can address inequality. Halting bus price rises alone will not achieve this if it means spending cuts in other areas of social spending, as the São Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad noted. | One question will be how the movement can address inequality. Halting bus price rises alone will not achieve this if it means spending cuts in other areas of social spending, as the São Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad noted. |
| So far most of the marchers have been middle class students, protesting in the city centres or near football stadiums. But on Tuesday came the first march in Rio from two favela communities – Rocinha and Vidigal – to the wealthy middle-class neighbourhood of Leblon, which is home to the state governor, Sérgio Cabral. | So far most of the marchers have been middle class students, protesting in the city centres or near football stadiums. But on Tuesday came the first march in Rio from two favela communities – Rocinha and Vidigal – to the wealthy middle-class neighbourhood of Leblon, which is home to the state governor, Sérgio Cabral. |
| "This is not about left or right. We're fed up with our leaders. We can't rely on public hospitals or schools, yet they spend billions on stadiums," said Anderson Castro, who turned up to the lively, peaceful, but relatively small march with his young son Arthur on his shoulders. | "This is not about left or right. We're fed up with our leaders. We can't rely on public hospitals or schools, yet they spend billions on stadiums," said Anderson Castro, who turned up to the lively, peaceful, but relatively small march with his young son Arthur on his shoulders. |
| The coming days are likely to clarify where, how and whether the demonstrations will continue on a large scale, with the attention of many focused on Sunday's Confederations Cup final in Rio. | The coming days are likely to clarify where, how and whether the demonstrations will continue on a large scale, with the attention of many focused on Sunday's Confederations Cup final in Rio. |
| Additional reporting from São Paulo by Helena Alves | Additional reporting from São Paulo by Helena Alves |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |