REVOLT PUTS BRAZIL NEAR TO CIVIL WAR

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 13

REVOLT PUTS BRAZIL NEAR TO CIVIL WAR

Troops March On Rio;

Unions Call Strikes

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright)

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 1. Brazil faces civil war today, with two of her four armies in revolt and moving to link up near Rio de Janeiro. The revolt, over reform proposals by President Joao Goulart, which service leaders regard as opening the door to communism, was set off when he allowed an Easter mutiny by sailors and marines to go unpunished.

Governor Ademar Barros of Sao Paulo State, south-west of Rio de Janeiro, said in a broadcast today troops of the Second Army were marching from Sao Paulo towards Rio de Janeiro to “sweep communism out of Brazil.”

He referred to Mr Goulart as the “exPresident” and said his men would link up in Minas Gerais State, north of Rio, with troops of the Fourth Army, which is reported to have moved up to the State border.

In Rio itself, Governor Carlos Lacerda, of Guanabara State, an opponent of President Goulart, is isolated in his sandbagged palace and 2000 loyal troops are out. Loyal troops of the First Army are also moving against the rebel Fourth Army in Minas Gerais. Rio’s banks are shut, crowds are reported to have mobbed food shops, a railway strike has started and the Communist-dominated General Labour Command has called a national strike in support of President Goulart. Rio today was apparently under the control of loyalist forces, with Governor Lacerda isolated in his sandbagged palace and defended by his own military forces. Governor Barros said he had backing from the Navy, two of whose vessels —a destroyer and a corvette—were reported to have left the northern naval base of Recife for an unknown destination last night.

A spokesman said the Governor reckoned he would also get the support of 60 per cent of the Air Force, the largest in South America, with 650 aircraft and 30,000 men. The Governor claimed he had the direct backing of the State Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, where the Third Army is based, near the border with Uruguay and Argentina. It is not yet known whether this army has declared itself for one of the two sides. Governor Barros also claimed the support of the Governors of Santa Catarina, Mattgrosso, Parana and Goias States. The move was being taken to “stabilise traditional Brazilian structures, and to defend the Constitution,” he said. General Amaury Kruel, commander of the Sao Paulo-based Second Army, said he had taken a stand against the Government to safeguard Brazil “from the Red yoke.” The War Minister, General Jair Dantas Ribeiro warned the rebels “not to allow themselves to be deceived by false defenders of democracy, leading them to a veritable fight between brothers.” A Presidential statement said that “we hope to be able to announce shortly that order has been re-established in Minas Gerais State.” General Dantas sent troops

of the First Army against rebel forces, who have taken up positions by the Paraibuna River and blocked the federal highway from Rio to Brasilia, the federal capital, in the interior. Acting under the direct orders of President Goulart, General Dantas said he was determined to accomplish his mission “whatever the cost.” His forces were acting with maximum energy against the rebels. Governor Barros today signed a decree declaring a “state of belligerency” in Sao Paulo, his press secretary told Reuter. Individual legal guarantees would be suspended, he said. One thousand “elements” had already been arrested. Air Force The spokesman said Governor Barros reckoned he would get the support of 60 per cent of the Air Force. Governor Barros himself said: “I am confident of victory.” Later, the rebel-held radio network said 30,000 troops were marching toward Rio de Janeiro, led by General Olimpio Mourao. Governor Barros, long foe of President Goulart, broad-

cast a pledge that he and his State would support the revolution.

“I can affirm that six States are now marching against Rio de Janeiro, which will be the stage for the liberation of Brazil, where the President will be deposed,” he said. “Neither I nor my States will ever permit Brazil to be Cubanised.” The Brazilian Government’s national radio in Rio remained on the air through the night, broadcasting reports on military units it said were standing by President Goulart. They included the First Army stationed in Rio, the Fourth Army in Recife and the Third Army in Porto Alegre.

“Against Reforms’*

The national radio station, broadcasting directly from the Presidential palace in Rio, said the “coup was not only against President Goulart but against his programme of reforms for the well-being of the Brazilian people.” The ' station urged the people to support the President. “The people can have confidence in their Govern-

merit,” it said. “This is the last, desperate, melancholy fling by opponents of democracy and the people.” The station then quoted messages of support from trade unionists throughout Brazil. It also said the army sergeants serving with dissident forces in Minas Gerais State had defected to join the loyalists.

Behind President The loyalist national radio in Rio reported that the Governors of the States of Bahia, Sergipe, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte had rallied behind the Government These states account for about 12m of Brazil’s 75m people.

General Dantas announced that troops from all parts of Brazil were moving to aid the Government. One formation was now making for Sao Paulo from Parana. Later, the national radio said the loyalist armoured column from Parana had “penetrated” Sao Paulo State without meeting resistance. It said Brasilia, the Federal capital, was under the control of Loyalist troops, and complete calm prevailed there. President Goulart was also in telephone contact with loyalist governors.

General Dantas said loyalist and rebel troops were facing each other on the Paraibuna River line.

Yesterday, General Mourao proclaimed the city of Juiz de Fora, in Minas Gerais State, the “revolutionary capital” of Brazil.

Governor Pinto of Minas Gerais said in a broadcast from the State capital, Belo Horizonte, last night that troops in the state, “faithful to the principles of the command structure, considered it their duty to enter into action and ensure the legality, threatened by the President of the Republic himself.” Governor Pinto declared the State in revolt and called for President Goulart’s impeachment. He linked the radio stations of Minas Gerais into a “liberty network” and called upon other stations in the nation to hook up to it to hear him broadcast an antiCommunist manifesto. Stations Seized Marines loyal to President Goulart seized several radio stations in Rio and put them off the air as Governor Pinto broadcast. Belo Horizonte is 225 miles north of Rio and has a population of about 600,000. The state has a population of 10,000,000, one-eighth the nation’s total. Belo Horizonte occupies a key position on the highway and air routes between Rio and Brasilia, the capital. Sixty labour union leaders, supporters of Mr Goulart, were reported to be under arrest in Belo Horizonte. All newspapers and radio and television stations there were taken under police “protection.”

First news of the rebellion came yesterday when the Meridional reported that troops of the fourth military region at Juiz de Fora, about 60 miles north of Rio, had moved up to the border between Minas Gerais and the State of Rio de Janeiro.