Judging from media morphologies on the massive rebellions in Turkey & Brazil, the ruling oligarchs are getting mighty rattled about their ability to control social resistance to their austerity policies & attacks on democratic rights. Both countries play pivotal roles in world politics, militarily & economically, & these protests are shaking things to their foundation & are of concern to oligarchs around the world.
The BBC entitled its morphology, “Policing Protests: Containment or Contagion,” where the reporter scratched his ass wondering if perhaps extreme police violence might be a provocation. Adding farce to his banal analysis, he compared the benign method of policing protests used in England--where bobbies communicate with protestors--to the military style in Turkey & Brazil. Are kettling & driving mounted riot cops into crowds of protestors considered benign in England cause they sure aint anywhere else!?
The Washington Post reported accurately that Brazilian protestors are directly linking their outrage to the US $25 billion the Brazilian government admits to spending on the World Cup & Olympic games (it’s likely several times that) & on the skyrocketing cost of real estate in Rio de Janeiro as a result of the games. “We don’t need the World Cup,” read one placard. “We need money for hospitals & education.” The editors didn’t elaborate on the evictions of indigenous residents at Maracana Village & police occupations & evictions in the favelas to make Rio a more suitable playground for rich party-goers.
Rearing up on their hind legs in indignation, the Washington Post editors chide that during massive demonstrations protestors & even onlookers often go too far. Those photos of protestors standing in front of vandalized ATM machines really rankled the editors. How about showing some fury at riot cops tear gassing unarmed, peaceful protestors!?
The Huntington Post reports the Brazilian government is sweating about the affects protests will have on attendance at the sporting events--cause if there’s one thing the Brazilian oligarchs have straight it’s how to shake their money tree. Will Brazil be able to provide for the security of all those well-heeled attendees or will they face a revolution? So they’re dragging out Brazilian coaches to plead for calm among protestors & putting up the head of FIFA to whimper that the sporting extravaganzas should not be blamed for social impoverishment. And just to make sure the message is clear, Brazil is sending its elite riot cops to the stadia to look tough & thwart protestors.
Things aren’t working out so well; it’s reported today that over one million people in 80 Brazilian cities are in the streets. The mass transportation increase in Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro was cancelled as a result of the protests but such a wimpy gesture only mocks the depth of popular fury being expressed across Brazil.
Here students in Brasilia are flipping the bird to the fare increase by simply jumping turnstiles. Soon they’ll be heading for the gates of government.
(Photo by EVARISTO SA/AFP)
Careful! Things are not always as they appear. The protests in Brazil may have begun for legitimate causes, but the recent escalation is evidence of far-right groups trying to take over or sabotage them. If you recall, there were similar right wing demonstrations before Goulart was overthrown in the sixties!
ReplyDeleteThe media whips up hatred against the radical left. The bourgeoisie uses sexism, racism and homophobia. In this case, the “carnevalization” of the protests serves those hostile to the aims of the movement. And undercover police are creating chaos everywhere, as well. Last night’s clashes in Brasilia, the capital, were led by the extreme-right. I’m astonished of their capability to lead, highjack and imprint meaning on these events.
When protesters closed Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge in Sao Paulo a couple of days ago our comrades experienced a sudden outbreak of hostility. Last night, the bloc of radical left organisations, students and members of the social movements was attacked by thugs in Rio de Janeiro. The levels of intimidation and aggression we experience on the demonstrations are out of this world. Yesterday night they sought a large conflict with us. The left closed ranks. PTSU militants, PSOL and PCR joined ranks and defended those people carrying red flags and banners on the demonstration.