On Thursday (05/01), after the attacks to the government buildings, on Sunday (08/01), the security forces surrounded the camp in front of the Army HQ, in Brasília, and detained 1,200 rioters putting an end to it.
In recent days, the military had already been collecting tents and objects abandoned by the supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Army soldiers also removed water tanks and structures installed in the protesters’ camp. However, approximately 100 tents were still in front of the HQ. The acts of vandalism sped up the process.
Just after the end of the elections, protesters closed roads and camped in front of military barracks to demand a coup. The camp in front of the Army HQ was just one among hundreds across Brazil.
New Defense Minister
On Monday (02/01), Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro took office and stated that the demonstrations in front of the headquarters that ask for a military coup are “democratic” and should gradually lose support, without repression.
Media outlets informed Múcio is known for his discreet and articulate profile, and that he was chosen by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for the position with the objective of undoing crises and conducting the intricate transition of the portfolio, due to the close connection that the Armed Forces and former President Bolsonaro had.
Dissatisfied Military
Múcio also stated that the depoliticization of the military, dissatisfied with Lula’s victory, is not “like a key, which you turn at once”. For the minister, if those opposed to the PT do not hinder the dynamics of the work of the Forces, there is no problem.
Acts of Terrorism and Violence
The anti-democratic acts, which called for a military coup to keep then-president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in power, had different cases of violence that included acts of terrorism, depredations, aggressions, sabotage, looting, kidnapping and attempted murder.
Pressure from the Workers’ Party (PT)
Those close to Lula, however, have been putting pressure to quickly demobilize the protesters’ camps. For instance, on Wednesday (04/01), Civil House Minister Rui Costa (PT) said that “it is time” for the demonstrators camped in front of the Army barracks to leave the place. Costa made the statement when he arrived for a ceremony in Brasília. Asked whether or not to support the use of force to dismantle the camps, the minister said that “it’s time to leave.”
With the Sunday attacks, Múcio’s strategy lost support and Costa ended up having his proposal implemented.
Demobilization
On Sunday (01/01), part of the protesters camped in front of the Army headquarters in Brasília began to demobilize in the midst of Lula’s inauguration. Five buses parked near the camp throughout the morning to take away protesters who had been there for weeks. In the afternoon, another ten full buses left the place. According to military personnel accompanying the movement, one of the factors that contributed to the demobilization was Bolsonaro’s trip to the United States on Friday (30).
Though, many still remained there and, according to media sources, what was holding the security forces from carrying out a full-scale operation to completely remove the protesters was the presence of relatives of active military and of reserve military in the camp.
