Africa-Press – Cape verde. A large crowd, estimated to have exceeded more than a thousand people, demonstrated today along the main arteries of the city of Praia, in a peaceful and orderly protest march. Despite what was considered to be an excess of police apparatus, people from different backgrounds, ages and social classes did not allow themselves to be intimidated and made their voices heard, shouting slogans, especially aimed at Justice. It should be noted that the protesters were prevented from approaching, within the limits of 100 meters, provided for by law, the Government Palace and the People’s House that represents them, the National Assembly.
“Today an important step was taken, to add to the daily steps that community associations take on the ground!”. This was the feeling experienced by Dino Gonçalves, from the Network of Community Associations and Social Movements of Praia (RACMS), who mobilized people to take to the streets of Praia this Friday, 19, to appeal for more respect and attention from national authorities, for issues such as security, transport, health and unemployment.
Although the Network guarantees that it has achieved its goals, with a large number of people joining this first initiative, as seen on the city streets, Dino confesses that they would have liked to have seen even more people who face problems on a daily basis, such as “taxi drivers”. , hiatuses and teachers”.
Even so, “it was very good” and whoever left, left to make their voice heard and the voice of those who want better living conditions.
“It was felt that people showed that they were eager to take to the streets”, he attested.
This civic movement guarantees, it was worth it and the idea is to institute, annually, this manifestation on the State of the Nation. “In July in parliament, in August in the streets”, he guaranteed.
People of all ages and walks of life
In an orderly and peaceful way, accompanied by a large police device along the route, it was past 4:30 pm when the protesters left Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, in front of the City Hall, towards the Farm. Always wearing posters showing the face of the lawyer Amadeu Oliveira, detained in the Ribeirinha jail, in São Vicente, with various words written like “The injustices of justice” or the “Face of Non-Justice”, the crowd headed for Sucupira, with the aim of destination the Government Palace.
On the way, several people joined the demonstration, where the participation of people of different ages and sectors of Cape Verdean civil, cultural and artistic society stood out. But also many well-known activists.
Just to name a few, Redy Wilson Lima, Helder Cardoso, Cesar Schofield Cardoso, Tutu Sousa, Zé Rui de Pina, Darlene Barreto, Vera Figueiredo, Thairo Costa, the pan-Africanist Paulo Umaru, the economist and consultant Amilcar Arístides Monteiro, Amândio Barbosa Vicente do PP, psychologist Jacob Vicente and influencer Oracy Cruz were some of the attendees.
Too much police force
Upon arrival at the Government Palace, what was considered by those present to be an excess of police devices awaited them.
A barrier of almost 100 police officers at the site alone, including the intervention corps, heavily equipped, preventing them from passing the roundabout next to the “Pão Quente” da Várzea, preventing them from making their voices heard with the rulers, as was the objective.
“What a disappointment. This is the state of our democracy”, lamented an older protester.
“Nu mesti police in the zone, moda sta li hoji”, that is, translating, “we need police in the zone, as it is here today”, said another, younger protester.
The police apparatus ended up, in a way, being one of the landmarks of the demonstration, albeit peaceful and orderly.
On social media, Cesar Schofield Cardoso was one of those who were amazed by the amount of police mobilized.
“The peaceful, citizen demonstration organized by the network of community associations and social movements in Praia (RACMS) was thus fulfilled. Note of note: a never-before-seen police presence, in terms of the number of agents, weapons and vehicles, preventing the passage of the Government Palace and the National Assembly. Let’s reflect on this. For now just the amazement,” he wrote.
once again barred
After some whistles and slogans like “Sima nu sta nu ka podi fika”, translating, “just as we are, we cannot stay”, the protesters headed from the surroundings of the Government Palace, to the National Assembly, up the ramp of the Achada de Santo António, having not managed to pass the roundabout, next to the Portuguese Cultural Center.
That is, once again, they were prevented from approaching the Casa do Povo, the National Assembly (AN), by the strong police force.
In fact, with the size and height of the new building of the Banco de Cabo Verde, of the AN, little or nothing could be seen, to the frustration of some.
“Without justice there is no peace”
Even so, with the excess of police apparatus and the impediment to make them approach the Government Palace and the National Assembly, the protesters were not intimidated and continued to enforce what took them to the streets, a fairer and safer, because “Without justice there is no peace”.
A country with more equality, against a “fat government and thin people”, access to health, efficient inter-island connections and fighting unemployment because “Sima nu sta nu ka podi fika”, translating, “as we are, we cannot stay”.
Journalist’s Note
It should be noted that, despite the insistent attempts by A NAÇÃO, together with colleagues from other press agencies, to know the exact number of personnel deployed to the operation, to provide more accurate information, this was not possible.
However, according to the accounts made on the spot, together with other colleagues, the number of PN men to cover the demonstration largely exceeded 100, for a universe of a little more than a thousand people estimated, who were present.
Just to give you an idea, for the Baía das Gatas Festival, in São Vicente, between 100 and 150 agents were mobilized, in a universe that surpassed in a large scale the more than 50 thousand festival-goers.
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