Protesters block highways again in Minas Gerais.
In another day of protests, demonstrators blocked sections of highways in Minas Gerais this morning. According to the Minas Gerais Military Police, approximately 600 people blocked traffic in the direction of Rio de Janeiro, at kilometer 1 of the BR-356; there were also blockades on sections of the BR-381.
Thais Leitão
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Brasilia - In yet another day of protests, demonstrators blocked sections of highways in Minas Gerais this morning. According to the Minas Gerais Military Police (PM), approximately 600 people blocked traffic in the direction of Rio de Janeiro, at kilometer (km) 1 of the BR-356.
According to information from the Operations Room of the PM Events Battalion, due to the protest, which is taking place near the Ring Road, close to the Olhos d'Água neighborhood in the municipality of Nova Lima, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, the traffic jam could reach 5 kilometers. According to the PM, the protesters set fire to tires, but the act was considered peaceful. The police did not know what the group's demands were.
On another highway, BR-381, there are protests at two points, according to the Federal Highway Police - one at km 504, on the service road, in the Belo Horizonte-São Paulo direction, in the Citrolândia neighborhood, in Betim, and another at km 450, in both directions, in the Bom Destino neighborhood, in Sabará.
The PRF (Federal Highway Police) press office was also unable to provide information about the protesters' demands, but said that inspectors are on site negotiating the reopening of the roads. During the protest, which is taking place near the city of Betim, tires were set on fire, but the police force considers the demonstration peaceful.
On Monday the 24th, protesters blocked some of the main highways in Minas Gerais in protest for improvements in public transportation, reduction of bus fares, and construction of pedestrian overpasses. They also criticized the spending related to the Confederations Cup.
Traffic in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area is now open.
Traffic on BR-356 in Minas Gerais, which had been blocked by protesters in both directions since 6:00 AM, was reopened around 11:30 AM. According to the Minas Gerais Military Police, the protest caused a traffic jam on the highway connecting Minas Gerais to Rio de Janeiro to reach seven kilometers.
The demonstration took place near the Ring Road, close to the Olhos d'Água neighborhood, in the municipality of Nova Lima, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.
There are also reports of protests on BR-381, which, according to the Federal Highway Police, had two sections blocked on Tuesday morning – one at kilometer 504, on the service road, in the Belo Horizonte-São Paulo direction, in the Citrolândia neighborhood, in Betim; and another at kilometer 450, in both directions, in the Bom Destino neighborhood, in Sabará.
The PRF (Federal Highway Police) press office said that inspectors are on site negotiating the reopening of the roads. During the protest near the city of Betim, tires were also burned, but the agency considered the demonstration peaceful.