Unemployment And Strikes In Brazil

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30395, 20 March 1964, Page 11

Unemployment And Strikes In Brazil

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

BRASILIA, March 19.

Amid reports of mounting political unrest in Brazil police last night intervened to prevent unemployed workers from ransacking food shops in Brasilia, the capital.

Earlier, 3000 unemployed sealed off a city district and were reported to have captured a police car and its occupants.

A demonstration by construction workers hit by a recent build* ing lull in Brasilia spread to other satellite cities.

The demonstrations occurred as the Governor of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Mr lido Menegheti, warned in Congress that his State would defend the Constitution and the national Government from “any assault.” Communications with Brazil were cut off last night.

A dispatch from Rio de Janeiro said cable company employees had gone on strike because of the dismissal of a group of workers. Long distance telephone operators said it was impossible to put through a call to Rio de Janeiro because of a strike of Brazilian radio technicians.

Unconfirmed reports circulated in Buenos Aires that the Guanabara State Governor, Mr

Carlos Lacerda, the conservative candidate for the Brazilian Presidency, had been arrested in Rio de Janeiro. The Governor of Sao Paulo, Mr Adhemar de Barros, in a new move to rally opposition to the President has invited the former President Juscelino Kubitschek and Governor Carlos Lacerda of Guanabaras State to appear on television with him to debate the current crisis.

He told reporters: “This climate of suspense will end within 30 days.”

Political observers said Mr Kubitschek was unlikely to join the two governors. Employees of American cable companies, with the exceptions of those handling press and wireless, went on strike throughout Brazil yesterday and other cable employees were expected to join them in sympathy. The strike was triggered by notice of dismissal on April 22 given to employees of All America Cables and Radio, which is withdrawing from Brazil.