Fresh protests erupted across Brazil Saturday despite conciliatory remarks by President Dilma Rousseff, who pledged to improve public services and fight harder against corruption.
Rousseff's televised address late Friday appeared to have done little to satisfy protesters, as activists vowed to continue the struggle and ordinarily football-mad Brazilians once again protested outside the Confederations Cup.
Some 60,000 people chanting "The Cup for whom?" rallied in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte as a Japan-Mexico match was under way as part of the international football tournament, a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup.
Police fired tear gas when some of the protesters hurled stones and tried to break through the security perimeter around the Mineirao stadium.
"We are against the World Cup because it masks the problems the country faces," said musician Leonardo Melo, who dismissed Rousseff's speech as "rhetoric."
Over the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have protested against the billions of dollars being spent on the World Cup, accusing the government of wasting money and neglecting health, education and transport.
More than one million marched in scores of cities on Thursday.
In Salvador, where Brazil faced Italy in another Confederations Cup match, a small crowd of around 200 protested Saturday, according to an AFP reporter.
Inside the stadium, dozens of fans brandished placards proclaiming: "Let's go to the streets to change Brazil," while other protests were held in a dozen cities, including Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
In Sao Paulo, hundreds of people protested against a proposed constitutional amendment that would take away the power of independent public prosecutors to probe crimes, making it harder to combat corruption.
As the Rousseff government tried to address the ever rising tide of dissatisfaction over its social policies, former football star-turned Socialist politician Romario joined the debate, praising the demonstrators and dubbing world football body FIFA "Brazil's real president."
In her address, Rousseff offered Brazilians a "great pact" between the government and the people to improve shoddy public services and stressed the need for "more effective ways to fight corruption."
But her intervention left the protesters unmoved, judging by a torrent of comments on social media websites.
"I was depressed listening to Dilma. It's a joke, right? Dilma treats us as if we are idiots," read one typical comment.
"We want dates and times, action. Promises are not enough," wrote another.
FIFA, however, which is helping Brazil host the Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup, praised Rousseff's conciliatory message.
"We welcome President Rousseff's address to the nation and reaffirm our cooperation to help the government ensure a successful and safe Confederations Cup and World Cup," the world football governing body said.
The protests have been largely peaceful but some have been marred by violence and acts of vandalism, notably in Rio and Brasilia, with two deaths recorded to date.
The popular outrage, dubbed by some a "Tropical Spring," echoing similar protest movements in the Arab world, the United States and more recently in Turkey, has come as a shock to outside observers.
Rousseff's predecessor and political mentor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva left office in 2010 with a soaring 80 percent approval rating, and his social policies are credited with lifting 40 million Brazilians out of poverty.
Lula also helped raise Brazil's international profile, and the World Cup was seen as a key milestone in its emergence as a global power player after several years of steady economic growth.
But despite the nationwide obsession with football, the protesters say they feel left behind as they watch gleaming new stadiums spring up in cities paralyzed by traffic jams and clogged with aging trains and buses.
"People have a right to criticize," Rousseff said, promising to meet with the leaders of peaceful demonstrations as well as workers and community leaders.
But the president warned against further violence, saying "the government cannot stand by as people attack public property ... and bring chaos to our streets."
In Sao Paulo, the Free Pass Movement (MPL) that kicked off the nationwide protests over a hike in mass transit fares two weeks ago said on its Facebook page that the demonstrations would go on despite the repeal of the increase.
The MPL now says it will press on until public transport is free of charge.
AFP
Sun Jun 23 2013
![Fresh protests erupt in Brazil despite Rousseff speech Fresh protests erupt in Brazil despite Rousseff speech](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/51371943460_295x200.jpg)
AWANI Borneo [16/07/2024] – SUKMA 2024 | Sentiasa berwaspada | Pintu sempadan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 16 Julai 2024 bersama Fauzi Zin.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Dilma Rousseff hilang jawatan sebagai presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff hilang jawatan sebagai presiden Brazil](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/81460946482_DilmarRouseff.jpg)
Dilma Rousseff hilang jawatan sebagai presiden Brazil
Dilma Rousseff dilucutkan jawatannya sebagai presiden Brazil selepas undian pemecatan beliau diadakan oleh Senat pada Rabu.
![Perbicaraan pecat Dilma Rousseff bermula Perbicaraan pecat Dilma Rousseff bermula](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/81460946482_DilmarRouseff.jpg)
Perbicaraan pecat Dilma Rousseff bermula
Nasib Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff kini berada ditangan senator-senator negara itu apabila perbicaraan pemecatan beliau bermula hari ini.
![Speaker Eduardo Cunha letak jawatan Speaker Eduardo Cunha letak jawatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/81467961377_EduardoCunha.jpg)
Speaker Eduardo Cunha letak jawatan
Individu yang menerajui usaha untuk mencabar Presiden Brazil yang digantung, telah meletakkan jawatan sebagai Speaker Dewan Kongres.
![Tuduhan rasuah: Senat Brazil lulus usul pecat presiden Dilma Rousseff Tuduhan rasuah: Senat Brazil lulus usul pecat presiden Dilma Rousseff](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/81460946482_DilmarRouseff.jpg)
Tuduhan rasuah: Senat Brazil lulus usul pecat presiden Dilma Rousseff
Undian menyaksikan 55 anggota bersetuju, sementara hanya 22 yang menentang.
![Pemansuhan undian penggulingan Dilma Rousseff cetus kontroversi Pemansuhan undian penggulingan Dilma Rousseff cetus kontroversi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-05/41462843338_DilmaRousseff.jpg)
Pemansuhan undian penggulingan Dilma Rousseff cetus kontroversi
Pemangku Speaker Kongres Dewan Rakyat bertindak memansuhkan undian penggulingan Presiden Wanita Pertama Brazil itu pada Isnin.
![Saya tidak akan dijatuhkan, kata Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff Saya tidak akan dijatuhkan, kata Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/81460946482_DilmarRouseff.jpg)
Saya tidak akan dijatuhkan, kata Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff
Presiden Brazil, Dilma Rousseff berkata beliau tidak akan dijatuhkan selepas Dewan Rakyat semalam mengundi untuk mengadakan prosiding pemecatan terhadap beliau.
![Dewan Rakyat Brazil lulus undian pemecatan Presiden Dilma Rousseff Dewan Rakyat Brazil lulus undian pemecatan Presiden Dilma Rousseff](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/81460946482_DilmarRouseff.jpg)
Dewan Rakyat Brazil lulus undian pemecatan Presiden Dilma Rousseff
Usul undian Dewan Rakyat ini akan dibawa ke Dewan Senat, bagi membolehkan kes itu dibahaskan secara terbuka.
![Najib ucap tahniah kepada Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff Najib ucap tahniah kepada Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-10/51414382567_295x200.jpg)
Najib ucap tahniah kepada Presiden Brazil Dilma Rousseff
Keputusan rasmi menunjukkan Rousseff memperoleh kemenangan dengan 51.59 peratus manakala calon pembangkang Aecio Neves mendapat 48.41 peratus selepas 99 peratus undi dikira.
![Rousseff dipilih sebagai Presiden Brazil untuk penggal kedua Rousseff dipilih sebagai Presiden Brazil untuk penggal kedua](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-10/51414382567_295x200.jpg)
Rousseff dipilih sebagai Presiden Brazil untuk penggal kedua
Dilma Rousseff mendahului dengan 51.6 peratus sementara saingannya Aecio Neves hanya memperolehi 48.4 peratus.
![Kalah dengan Jerman, peminat carut Presiden Brazil Kalah dengan Jerman, peminat carut Presiden Brazil](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-07/41404870574_295x200.jpg)
Kalah dengan Jerman, peminat carut Presiden Brazil
Peminat bolasepak Brazil meneriakkan kata-kata kesat kepada Presiden Dilma Rousseff selepas pasukan Jerman mendahului 5-0 sebelum tamat babak pertama perlawanan separuh akhir Piala Dunia 2014.