Reagan effigy burned despite U.S. loan aid

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 6

Reagan effigy burned despite U.S. loan aid

NZPA-Reuter Sao Paulo President Ronald Reagan arrives in Sao Paulo today, after the announcement that the United States will advance a SUSI.2 billion loan to Brazil. Yesterday demonstrators burnt an effigy of Mr Reagan in protest against his Brazilian tour. Mr Reagan arrived in South America's largest nation on Wednesday, the first stop on a five-day, fournation good will tour. He met Brazil's President. General Joao Figueiredo, yesterday in Brasilia. The demonstrators crowded around the Sao Paulo Cathedral and unfurled banners reading "Reagan Go Home." After listening to speeches, the chanting crowd paraded through the streets, snarling rush-hour traffic. Few police were in evidence and the protest was peaceful. The crowd was estimated to be 1500.' The demonstrators walked to the city's main square, the Praca da Republica, as organisers carried the lifesize effigy of Mr Reagan on a pole. At the square they set it on fire while onlookers chanted: “Down with Reagan. Down with imperialism.” Speakers called Mr Reagan a “bloody killer" for

his friendly policy towards the Rightest rulers in Central America and hostility to Nicaragua’s Leftist regime. They also complained about the “eagle of exploitation,” referring to the United States, and demonstrators cheered when American companies operating in Brazil were accused of keeping ' starving workers in poverty. The rally was organised by Left-wing politicians, unions and student groups opposed to Brazil’s military-backed

President Ronald Reagan made an oral slip-up when he toasted the people of Bolivia — instead of Brazil — at a dinner hosted in his honour yesterday by the Brazilian President, General Joao Baptista Figueiredo. Realising his mistake as soon as the word was out of his mouth, Mr Reagan then made it worse by saying: “That's where I’m going.” Bolivia is not on the agenda for his four-nation LatinAmerican tour. Closing a lengthy toast, Mr Reagan said: “To President Figueiredo, to the people of Bolivia — that’s where I’m going — to the people of Brazil and to the dream of democracy and peace here in the Western hemisphere.”

Government. The demonstrators denounced General Figueiredo as a dictator. Speaking at a banquet in Brasilia, Mr Reagan had called on international bankers to supply Brazil with the necessary funds to handle its overwhelming foreign debt burden. He said that while indebted countries should cut their deficits, “it is just as important that lenders not withhold new funds from countries which adopt effec-

tive stabilisation plans." He made his speech a few hours after American officials had revealed that the United States was providing SUSI.2 billion (about SNZI.6 billion) as a shortterm bridging loan. The money will enable Brazil to keep up debt payments until the arrival of funds which it has asked the International Monetary Fund to provide. General Figueiredo, whose Government is maintaining service payments on a debt estimated at around SUSBS billion, thanked the United states Government for its support. The security for Mr Reagan's visit is very tight. A spokesman from Bandeirantes Palace, Sao Paulo State’s seat of government, said that Mr Reagan would travel even the 100 metres from the palace’s heliport to its doors in a bullet-proof car, flown in from the United States. The spokesman said that about 30 American security officials had been searching the palace daily for the last two weeks, testing every-’ thing from the lift to the kitchen. All Mr Reagan’s food and drink would be prepared by a group of American catering staff.