From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: BRAZIL: MORE MASS PROTESTS AGAINST COLLOR
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 05:05:59 GMT

/** reg.samerica: 146.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:Brazil: More Mass Protests **
** Written 11:49 am  Aug 24, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: IPS:Brazil: More Mass Protests

/* Written 12:17 am  Aug 24, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: BRAZIL: MORE MASS PROTESTS AGAINST PRESIDENT COLLOR

rio de janeiro, aug 21 (ips) -- at least 50,000 people joined a
student march on the streets of rio de janeiro on friday to
demand the resignation of president fernando collor de mello, who
is accused of corruption.

although the police sources said the march was attended by
50,000 people, 20,000 of them students, lindberg farias,
president of the national students union which organised the
event, maintains that 100,000 demonstrators joined the rally.

high school and university students, many with the words
''collor out'' painted on their faces, abandoned their classes
friday and gathered in the centre of rio, chanting irreverent
anti-government slogans and waving red and black flags.

the popular singer fafa de belem, who led the crowd in singing
the national anthem, brought an emotional note to the event and
several demonstators broke down in tears.

''the rebel years aren't over'' said lindberg farias,
referring to the 1960's when students defied brazil's military
dictatorship by staging mass protests, including the so-called
''march of the 100,000'' in 1968.

according to the student leader, young people will remain on
the streets until president collor has been ousted.

mounting evidence of collor's links with businessman paulo
cesar farias, whose alleged crimes of corruption and trafficking
of influences are being investigated by a special parliamentary
commission of inquiry (cpi), have sparked the so-called ''war of
the colours'' in brazilian cities.

those opposed to collor regularly appear on the streets clad
in red and black (red for rage, black for mourning) while those
who support the president drape themselves in green and yellow,
the national colours.

lindberg warned that even larger protests are scheduled for
next week, in sao paulo on tuesday and brasilia on wednesday.

in addition to demonstrations by middle class and professional
groups, private sector businessmen are also pressing eager for a
swift end to the crisis, which they say is disrupting normal
economic activity.

on thursday night, the president of the national business
confederation, antonio oliveira santos, delivered a speech
expressing the business community's anger and dismay at a
government that is generating economic uncertainty.

''we cannot accept corruption and thievery'', oliveira santos
told his audience, which included collor's staunch political
ally, presidency minister jorge borhausen. (more/ips)
----


brazil: more (2)

in friday's edition of the daily ''o jornal do brasil'', the
country's most distinguished political columnist, carlos castello
branco, predicted that the current crisis would be resolved soon.

he said the solution would emerge spontaneously, and would not
wait for the constitutional solution of a parliamentary process
to impeach the president, which is complex and very slow.

according to reports circulating in brazilian political
circles, foreign minister celso lafer and technology minister
helio jaguaribe have decided to resign on the recommendation of
the opposition social democratic party, of which they are both
members.

moreover, the influential provincial governor of rio de
janeiro, leonel brizola, is expected to announce his new position
regarding the scandal on monday, at a rally convened by his
democratic workers' party to protest ''against corruption and for
legality.''

until last week, brizola remained loyal to collor, defending
him against public attacks and criticising the parliamentary
commission for its handling of the inquiry into government
corruption. by distancing himself from leaders of the anti-collor
movement, brizola divided the opposition.

however, in the face of mounting pressure from his own party,
brizola seems poised to return to the ranks of the opposition,
though on his own terms.

meanwhile, the vice-president of the cpi, senator mauricio
correa, predicted that the ''climax of the crisis'' would come
next week. he said collor's resignation would be the most
probable solution, as well as the least damaging to brazil.

correa recalled the case of former us president richard nixon,
who initially refused to resign over the ''watergate'' scandal but
eventually agreed to do so.

''nobody can resist the multitudes on the streets,'' he said,
adding that collor and his advisers ''should reflect on the
immeasurable damage this country would suffer'' if the president
insists on going through a long and risky impeachment process.

the mayor of the southern city of curitiba, jaime lerner, was
even more forceful. ''collor's government is finished. he himself
started the plebiscite that wiped him out. it's tomorrow that's
at stake,'' lerner wrote in a local newspaper.

lerner, the highly successful mayor of brazil's so-called
''environmental showcase'' city, said the new government must
adopt a new strategy to combat inflation, strengthen economic
growth and decentralise government in order to build a new
country. (ends/ips/trd/sp or en/mo/oh/cg/92)
----



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