Brazilian capital forgoes fete

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 6

Brazilian capital forgoes fete

NZPA-Reuter Brasilia Brazil’s capital skipped anniversary celebrations yesterday for the first time in its 24 i year history under severe emergency measures aimed at curbing a growing opposition campaign for direct elections.

Eight people were being held incommunicado by the Federal police after the first arrests under the measures, imposed before a crucial Parliamentary debate on Thursday on an opposition move to allow for direct Presidential elec-

tions. There was no sign of Brasilia’s customary colourful anniversary celebrations, which traditionally include popular fairs, sports events, and an official ceremony. a" ' a concert in the city’s theatre was scheduled.

The opposition has held million-strong rallies in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo over the last two weeks to push for the selection of the next President by direct popular vote rather than by a governing party-con-trolled electoral college. The Archbishop of Sao

Paulo, Cardinal Evaristo Arns, said in Sao Paulo after a National Conference of Bishops meeting that the Church was “all in favour” of direct elections. The television network, TV-Manchete, said yesterday that the military officer in charge of the capital’s broadcasting station had prevented the airing of an interview with Ulyses Guimaraes, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Movement Party.

Interviews with the Leftwing Governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Mr Leonel

Brizola, and with Democratic Movement Governor of Minas Gerais state, Mr Tancredo Neves, had also been taken off the air in Brasilia, a TV Manchete spokesman said. An officer at one of the five road-blocks thrown around Brasilia to stop would-be demonstrators from rallying on the capital as earlier planned told reporters that anyone wearing badges or T-shirts with slogans backing direct elections would be arrested.

The opposition cancelled plans for a mass rally in

Brasilia on the eve of the Parliamentary debate after the emergency measures were imposed. It called instead on supporters to switch their home lights off for 15 minutes, sound car horns and light fireworks in protest. Those detained yesterday in the first arrests under the emergency measures included six people, one of them a priest, who were fasting on the local cathedral’s stairs in support of the opposition proposal after walking more than 1000 km from Sao Paulo.