Lula: Brasilia rioters likely had inside help from police, military

Brazilian leader alleges that rioters who sacked presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress likely had assistance from Bolsonaro sympathisers; Brasilia ramps ups security amid new protest threats.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has told the press that the rioters who ransacked the seat of government likely had inside help, with the re-elected leftist promising an in-depth investigation to uncover the truth behind the turmoil that gripped Brasilia last weekend.

Security officials intensified their clean-up operation this week after the shocking scenes that saw backers of Lula’s far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro storm the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court, and cause widespread damage.

Lula told reporters on Thursday he had ordered a “thorough review” of Planalto Palace staff after last Sunday’s violent uprising, saying he is “convinced” the anti-democratic protesters had assistance.

“I am convinced that the door of the Planalto [presidential] Palace was opened for people to enter because there are no broken doors,” the president said in Brasilia.

“This means that someone facilitated their entry,” added the president, who also pointed a finger at “conniving agents” from Brazil’s Police and Armed Forces.

Dealing with the aftermath of the violent reaction by socalled “bolsonaristas” to his brand-new presidential term, Lula added that “from now on we will be tougher, more cautious, more prudent.”

“The truth is that the palace was full of bolsonaristas, of military personnel, and we want to see if we can correct [the situation], to place career civil servants [in those posts], preferably civilians,” said Lula.

He said any “radical bolsonarista” found to be still working for the government will be dealt with and cited media reports of alleged threats made by staffers inherited from the previous administration.

“How can I have a person outside my office who might shoot me?” asked the president, who defeated his opponent by a razorthin margin in an October vote that followed a deeply divisive election campaign.

Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, urged the government to “thoroughly investigate all those who have incited, financed, or committed acts of violence in an attempt to negate election results.”

It added in a statement that Lula “should respond to the unprecedented assault on January 8 by strengthening democratic principles, upholding the rule of law, and tackling chronic human rights problems that were made worse during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro.”

Pro-bolsonaro rioters on Sunday looted government offices, destroyed priceless works of art and left graffiti messages calling for a military coup. The extent of the damage is still being calculated.

‘UNDER PRESSURE’

Investigations continued into security lapses and to identify those who masterminded and financed the rioters.

The Attorney General’s Office in Brazil announced Thursday it had identified 52 individuals and seven companies suspected of having helped pay for the uprising.

According to national chain TV Globo, the suspects included leaders in the pro-bolsonaro agribusiness sector. They are thought to have paid for the food and transport of rioters who arrived in Brasilia from several regions of the country on about 100 passenger buses.

Seeking to prevent a repeat of Sunday’s destruction, the security forces were placed on a war footing Wednesday in response to threats of fresh protests in Brasilia and other cities.

But the promised mass mobilisation to “take back power” from Lula and his leftist government never materialised, leaving riot police with helicopter backing twiddling their thumbs as they maintained a security ring around the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasilia.

A poll published by the Datafolha institute Wednesday said 93 percent of Brazilians condemned Sunday’s violent uprising, though another – by Atlas Intelligence – found that one in five supported the rioters.

The arrest of nearly 2,000 and continued detention of more than 1,100 rioters as well as the strong security deployment appeared to act as a deterrent to renewed mobilisation.

Many were discouraged “for fear of being arrested,” said Guilherme Casaroes, a political scientist with the Getúlio Vargas Foundation.

For Geraldo Monteiro of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, “the Bolsonaro movement is under pressure and does not have the organisation for a counter-offensive.”

Following the attacks on Brazil’s symbols of democracy, Lula’s hand was strengthened after he received the public backing of leaders of Congress and governors – some of whom are in the Bolsonaro camp.

Efforts continue, meanwhile, to track down more of those involved, with suspected rioters identified through security cameras or selfies they themselves posted on social media.

High-level heads have also been rolling: An arrest warrant is expected to be executed in the coming days against Anderson Torres – a justice minister under Bolsonaro who served as Brasilia security chief when the riots happened.

He has since been fired, and is expected to return to Brazil from a holiday in the United States on Friday to face accusations of collusion with the rioters.

Brasilia’s military police chief and the region’s governor have also lost their jobs.