The Movement Against Bus Fare Increases calls for decisive mobilisation
08 Jun 2005 16:00 GMT
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Protests against increases of 8.8% for bus fares in Florianópolis, south of Brazil, have now reached their second week. The city has the most expensive tickets in the country, costing around R$ 2,08 (US$ 1)
The City Hall of Florianópolis and the Santa Catarina State Government have been trying to criminalise the movement by arresting more than 70 activists during the demonstrations, with 19 of them facing criminal charges. Human Rights Groups have denounced the police abuses and compared them to the ones committed during the military regime in Brazil.
The majority of the population has now joined the student movement and the political organizations in their support of the struggle for the reduction of the bus fares. On June 6th, around a thousand people spontaneously blocked the most important avenues of the city. The movement will continue to mount demonstrations and are calling for a big action on the
9th of June, as an ultimatum for the Mayor to suspend the readjustment.<a href=" http://brasil.indymedia.org/media/2005/06/318144.avi">Watch the video</a>
Fotos: <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/318827.shtml">
Send messages condemning the police violence and the imprisonment of the militants to:
Public Transportation Workers Strike</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/318833.shtml">People setting up blockades</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/318842.shtml">Blockades</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/318868.shtml">Police repression during the blockades</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/319038.shtml">People marching at downtown</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/319050.shtml">Blocking the Paulo Fontes Av.</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/319066.shtml">Protest in front of the Governor´s house</a> | March at the night of June 7th <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/319105.shtml">I</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/319121.shtml">II</a> | <a href="http://www.midiaindependente.org/pt/blue/2005/06/319129.shtml">III</a>
Public Security - Ronaldo Benedet
Phone: 55 48 251-1113
Fax: 55 48 251-1120
benedet@ssp.sc.gov.br
Governor - Luiz Henrique da Silveira
Phone: 55 48 221-3186
Fax: 55 48 221-3137
governador@scc.sc.gov.br
Mayor - Dário Berger
Phone: 55 48 251-6064
Fax: 55 48 251-6067