Researcher Leonardo Nascimento, of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), who monitors the former president’s support networks, says other attacks have begun to be considered in these groups.
In addition to terms such as “caravan” and “festa da Selma” (a disguised allusion to the military salute “jungle”), which circulated a lot in the Bolsonarista networks before the invasion of public buildings in Brasilia on Sunday (8/1), a another word attracted attention due to the frequency that began to be used: refinery.
“Since January 2, at least, this movement to organize caravans in Brasilia has taken place through the publication of invitations, memes in the WhatsApp and Signal groups [outro aplicativo de mensagens]. There was a week of preparation for what happened. And what we see now is the frightening rise of the word ‘refinery’ in these groups,” notes researcher Leonardo Nascimento, of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA).
Together with Letícia Cesarino, from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and Paulo de Freitas Castro Fonseca, also from UFBA, he develops a monitoring work on radical groups in support of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
In the first eight days of 2023, there were 2,828 mentions of the term “refinery” in 439 channels (which broadcast only advertising) and 228 groups (where messages can be exchanged) Bolsonarists in the Telegram app — while in the previous eight days there were only 39 mentions of the word, which represents an increase of more than 7,000%.
“It was a term that almost didn’t get mentioned, except in discussions about the reduction of the fuel tax rate, and it suddenly appears in the groups, in the context that you need to go to the Petrobras refineries to attack them,” says Nascimento. The aim would be to prevent the distribution of fuel.
“That is, they have specific goals,” he says. The messages repeat common slogans in the groups such as “the people, for the people, by the people!” and they make an appeal to help other radicals who are found in refineries and petrol stations.
The Single Federation of Petroleum Workers (FUB), the trade union, declared that it had been on alert since Sunday night to verify the situation of risk and anomaly in state refineries and communicated that it had sent a document to the Executive Management of Petrobras Corporate Intelligence and Security (ISC).
There have been records of attempts to block access to refineries in places like Araucária (PR), Canoas (RS) and São José dos Campos (SP), the FUB said. According to the union, the situation has returned to normal.
Senator Jean Paul Prates (PT-RN), appointed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the presidency of Petrobras, posted on Twitter that calls to block access and cause shortages “have all been averted with strengthened surveillance, of the intelligence and support of the police forces of the respective states”.
‘Generates constant fear’
The UFBA researcher says that in these groups, outbreaks of other attacks have begun to be considered. And he claims that generating constant fear is the essence of terrorism – he cites the opinion formed by the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard on the matter.
“The fear of a cataclysmic event happening is their victory. That is terror.”
“My biggest concern is that these kinds of events become frequent and with disastrous consequences for the country,” he says.
The Bolsonarist invaders risk more than 15 years in prison
The Bolsonarists who invaded and vandalized the National Congress, the Federal Supreme Court and the Planalto Palace have committed several crimes and risk, if added to the penalties, more than 15 years of imprisonment in a cloistered regime, according to criminal law professors.
This sentence can go up to 30 years if the charges also include the crime of terrorism, as indicated by STF minister Alexandre de Moraes.
According to criminal lawyers, the invaders can be classified as crimes against democratic institutions, criminal association and damage to public property.
– This text was published in https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-64213693
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
