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Brazil police use tear gas to disperse truck blockades

Roadblocks across Brazil show no sign of ending, after truckers' groups and the government reach an impasse on fuel prices.

27.02.2015 - Update : 27.02.2015
Brazil police use tear gas to disperse truck blockades

By Ben Tavener

SAO PAULO 

Protests by truck drivers about fuel prices and delivery rates entered a tenth day Friday, with scores of roads in at least eight states affected, as police used tear gas to disperse roadblocks.

Negotiations with the government, even with some concessions offered, have so far managed only to marginally reduce the number of truckers involved. At one point 13 states were affected, with blockades affecting more than 100 state and federal highways, local media report.

The drivers are angry over the lower rates being paid for freight services. Representatives at the Federation of Autonomous Road Transports in the State of São Paulo, or FECAMS, say cargo fees have decreased by 37 percent in the last five months, while maintenance costs have rocketed.

At the same time, the price of diesel and road tolls have been increased by the government in a bid to boost state revenues.

The government has held meetings with a range of unions and drivers' associations but have not included a key protest leader representing many truckers. Others have refused to recognize the legitimacy of those purporting to represent them.

The government has said it will freeze increases on diesel for six months, delay the repayment of certain development bank-issued loans for a year, and exempt trucks from some tolls when not carrying goods, as well as offering to sanction a so-called "Truckers' Bill" unamended. The bill lays out rules and regulations for truckers, including benefits and access to credit.

A number of court decisions have also ordered that federal highways be unblocked in 11 states, but many drivers say they will maintain protests until the government reduces the price of fuel -- the major impasse in talks.

The presence of a number of associations representing truckers has further complicated negotiations.

Regional courts have also determined hourly and daily fines for drivers who block state highways. In Santa Catarina, offenders are set to be fined nearly $3,500 (10,000 reais) per day. Elsewhere, $1,750 (5,000-real) hourly fines have been ordered for those causing or organizing traffic stoppages.

Tensions escalated Friday in the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul when police repeatedly used tear gas to clear roadblocks. At least one driver was detained, according to the G1 news portal.

Earlier this week drivers blocked access to the Santos and Paranaguá ports, key to Brazil's commodity exports. Police also used nonlethal munitions to clear the entrances.

The effect of the blockades has already begun to be felt across Brazil and beyond. Soybean and corn silos are overflowing as they await pick-up and the global price of soybean has increased as a result, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Deliveries of gas, food and other goods have also being delayed, leading to localized shortages.

Drivers in most areas have allowed regular deliveries, including perishable goods, but the sheer number of vehicles involved in some areas has meant congestion and long traffic lines.

But protesters say they have not ruled out extending blockades to all transport, ratcheting up pressure on the government.

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