Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 2 June 2017

AP: Brazilian diplomats criticize
Temer over protest crackdown

By MAURICIO SAVARESE the soldiers.
Associated Press “We, civil servants of the
SAO PAULO (AP) — More Ministry of Foreign Rela-
than 100 Brazilian diplo- tions of Brazil, have de-
mats spoke out Thursday cided to publicly come
against the administra- forward due to the wors-
tion of President Michel ening of the social, politi-
Temer, whose already cal and institutional crisis
low popularity has slid that currently ravages
amid corruption allega- Brazil,” the letter says.
tions that have spurred “We repudiate the use of
growing calls for him to force to repress or inhibit
resign. demonstrations.”
In an open letter titled The diplomats also call
“Diplomacy and De- for Brazilian leaders to
mocracy,” the diplomats “renew the commitment
criticize the recent use of for constructive and re-
force to contain protests sponsible dialogue, urg-
and say Brazil’s leaders ing everyone to give up
should choose dialogue authoritarian tempta-
In this May 22, 2017 photo, volunteer first responders from the “Green Helmets” move along the
sidelines of an opposition protest during clashes with security forces in Caracas, Venezuela. The over “authoritarian temp- tions, personal or partisan
priority of the group, made up of about two hundred medical students, dentists and doctors, is to tations.” The letter came conveniences and at-
attend to injured protesters. a few days after Brazil’s tachments.” “Only in this
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Foreign Ministry harshly manner it will be possible
criticized a United Nations to restart a new cycle of
In Venezuela: statement condemning development, legitimized

First aid volunteers risk their lives at protests violence against protest- by popular vote,” the let-
ers in the capital of Brasilia ter says.
on May 24. In that demon- One of the diplomats
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ stration, more than 35,000 who signed the docu-
Associated Press of about two hundred hicle in the western city of people protested Temer’s ment told The Associated
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) medical students, dentists Maracaibo while helping proposed economic aus- Press that the decision to
— As thousands of people and doctors who attend the wounded. The death terity measures, including write the letter came af-
fled tear gas at a recent the marches that have generated sorrow and soli- changes to the pension ter the Foreign Ministry
anti-government protest, a been rocking the South darity with the group and system and labor laws. said in a statement that
single young woman stood American country daily for residents changed the Protesters also called for the criticism from the U.N.
still, protected only by a two months. Protesters ap- name of one of the ave- him to resign amid the was “biased” and “un-
gas mask and a white hel- plaud the so-called briga- nues of Maracaibo to “Paul investigation into alleged informed.” “There has
met with a green cross. diers as heroes and pose Moreno Street.” corruption and obstruc- been some discomfort
The woman took shelter with them for selfies when “It was very hard news to tion of justice. among officers with the
under a bridge and at- they arrive at rallies march- accept because he (More- Several dozen protesters use of the Foreign Ministry
tended to a person whose ing in single file, waving a no) was on the street help- were injured and several to legitimize Brazil’s new
right ankle was bloody and giant white flag and howl- ing just like us,” said Julio news organization cap- government abroad, but
injured. She splinted the ing military-like cadences. Sosa, a medical student tured images of military the statement against
leg, and then took the man It’s all part of a pre-protest and member of the relief police firing live rounds at the U.N. crossed a line for
away on a motorcycle. ritual intended to steel the group. protesters. After scenes of many,” said the diplomat,
The rescuer belongs to the volunteers for another day The group was born dur- vandalism, Temer issued who agreed to speak
“Green Helmets,” a group at the frontline of violent ing the anti-government a decree to use troops to about the letter only if not
clashes. demonstrations of 2014 protect public buildings quoted by name, fearing
While the group’s priority and reactivated in April af- in Brasilia, a measure that retaliation by the admin-
is to attend to injured pro- ter a new wave of protests was criticized by a Su- istration.
testers, members are not against President Nicolas preme Court justice and Temer, who was vice pres-
immune from serious risks Maduro kicked off. Green key leaders of Congress. ident, took over the presi-
themselves. Helmet chapters have The president, whose dency in May 2016 after
One Green Helmet vol- sprung up in at least six of popularity has fallen into his predecessor, Dilma
unteer, Paul Moreno, a the country’s 24 states and the single digits, said it Rousseff, was suspended
24-year-old student in his fi- students from at least 12 was a necessary measure and later impeached in a
nal year of medical school, public and private higher to block anarchists that process that she and her
was killed in mid-May when education institutions have trashed the government supporters have called a
he was run over by a ve- lent their support.q area, but he withdrew coup.q