Striking police officers gesture in a line in front of the Bahia legislature in Salvador, Brazil, Feb. 6. Archbishop Murilo Krieger of Salvador has been mediating the eight-day old military police officer strike that has caused havoc and left at least 95 people dead.
Striking police officers gesture in a line in front of the Bahia legislature in Salvador, Brazil, Feb. 6. Archbishop Murilo Krieger of Salvador has been mediating the eight-day old military police officer strike that has caused havoc and left at least 95 people dead. CNS photo/Lunae Parracho, Reuters

Brazil's Archbishop Krieger mediates police strike in Bahia state

By  Catholic News Service
  • February 7, 2012

SALVADOR, Brazil - Archbishop Murilo Krieger of Salvador is mediating an eight-day military police officer strike that has caused havoc and left at least 95 people dead.

Archbishop Krieger, 69, was called in as a mediator Feb. 6 to a meeting of government officials and representatives from the striking police officers that lasted until the early hours of Feb. 7. An archdiocesan spokesman said the archbishop resumed negotiations later that morning at his residence.

Bahia Gov. Jaques Wagner called in the armed forces Feb. 6 after strikers refused to leave the state's legislative building. Dozens of women and children were also in the building. The legislature was surrounded by troops, and water and electricity were turned off to try to force out the strikers.

During the strike, more than a dozen stores have been looted, shows and events have been canceled, and schools closed. Salvador is known for its violent streets, but homicides have doubled since the strike began.

Tagged under:

Related items

More in this category: « Catholicism still dominant in Caribbean, but its influence wanes Forgiveness sought for those who protected abusers »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE