Brazil: Masses block Highway in Rondônia while protesting
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a report published by A Nova Democracia.
The masses block the BR-364 at two points in Rondônia during protests
On the morning and night of May 7, two simultaneous protests blocked sections of the BR-364 in Rondônia. The demonstrations took place in Candeias do Jamari and Porto Velho, condemning the precariousness of public infrastructure, demanding the right to housing, and denouncing the attempt to privatize one of the main roads in the Northern region, the BR-364.
The people demand better structure for the bridge.
Early in the morning, residents of the city of Candeias do Jamari blocked the BR-364 heading toward Porto Velho. The protest was motivated by the risk of collapse of the bridge over the Candeias River, a structure that has had problems for years without the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) taking action.
Additionally, the protesters denounced the environmental impacts caused by a sand extraction site located near the river, which is accelerating the erosion of the banks and putting both the bridge and the homes in the area at risk.
With banners and signs, the residents demanded the presence of representatives from the DNIT and called for concrete measures. Traffic was severely affected, and the Federal Highway Police (PRF) was called in to negotiate the partial reopening of the road. However, the residents stood firm and stated that they would not leave until there was a formal commitment to resolve the issue.
Porto Velho: land exclusion leads the Porto Cristo neighborhood to revolt.
In the evening, another blockade was held at the intersection of the BR-364 and Avenida Mamoré in Porto Velho. Residents of the Porto Cristo neighborhood protested against the exclusion of some homes from the land regularization process. The lack of legal title prevents access to public services and makes families vulnerable to forced evictions.
The blockade caused a long traffic jam on the highway. With banners and signs, the residents declared that they would remain mobilized until all properties in the neighborhood were legalized.
This was not the first time that residents of Porto Velho had paralyzed the BR-364. The newspaper A Nova Democracia had already reported on the mobilizations in the Três Marias and Porto Cristo neighborhoods, which denounced the neglect by the city hall and demanded land regularization.
