Armed forces contribute to ensuring peace in the first round across the country
The Minister of Justice points out that the security forces led the systematization and the most complete integration made in the history of an election.
Nov 17, Sao Paulo: Normality in the polling places was ensured by approximately 26 thousand military personnel from the Armed Forces, responsible for reinforcing security and acting in the transportation of ballot boxes and personnel in support of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
In addition, at a press conference this Sunday (15), the Minister of Justice and Public Security, André Mendonça, pointed out that the security forces were the protagonists in the systematization and the most complete integration made in the history of an election.
“The elections took on a new shape this year on the part of Public Security. Investing in technology is the number one priority at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. This is a topic that definitely joined in to assist and contribute to the repression of illicit acts during the electoral process ”, says André Mendonça.
In addition to the reinforcement of the Federal Police and the Federal Highway Police, to support the first round of the elections, the TSE approved the sending of troops for Voting and Counting Guarantee (GVA) to 630 locations in 11 states of the Federation. The distribution took place as follows: in Acre, 20 locations; Alagoas, 21; Amazonas, 41; Ceará, 31; Maranhão, 98; Mato Grosso, 34; Mato Grosso do Sul, 8; Pará, 72; Piauí, 173; Rio Grande do Norte, 121; and the Tocantins, 11.
The soldiers of the Forces Singulares also acted in the logistical support to the Electoral Justice, with the transport of personnel and ballot boxes. Logistical support benefited 104 locations in eight states: Acre, 35 locations; in Amazonas, 26; Amapá, 5; Bahia, 1; Mato Grosso, 4; Mato Grosso do Sul, 4; Roraima, 27 and Rio de Janeiro, 2.
Transport
The military transported more than 720 people and 23 thousand kilos of material, between electronic ballot boxes and other items for the Electoral Justice. For the execution of the activities, 145 ships and vessels were used, about 2 thousand vehicles and 24 aircraft, adding up to a total of 182 flight hours.
These means of transport ensured the access of the Regional Electoral Courts (TREs) to the most remote communities, such as indigenous and riverside communities. On Saturday (14), for example, soldiers from the 22nd Army Jungle Infantry Brigade, located in Amapá (AP), along with TRE servers, transported ballot boxes across the Oiapoque River, bound for the indigenous village of Kumarumã. Another example occurred on the island of Paquetá, in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, to which the Navy transported material to the Electoral Justice in boats.
Joint commands
On Friday (13), to coordinate all actions, the Ministry of Defense activated the Joint Operations Center (COC), in addition to the Joint Commands of the Amazon, North, Northeast, West, South, Southeast, do Leste and the Planalto Joint Command and Aerospace Operations Command.
On Sunday morning (15), the director-general of TSE, Rui Moreira de Oliveira, visited the Joint Operations Center, where he can learn more details about the activities developed by the Armed Forces. During the afternoon, it was the turn of the Minister of Defense, Fernando Azevedo, to monitor the performance of the Armed Forces in support of the first round of municipal elections.
Technology
The technology used in Operation Elections 2020, such as the use of drones by the Federal Police, according to Minister André Mendonça, was fundamental to the operation, coordinated by the Secretariat for Integrated Operations of the portfolio (Seopi / MJSP).
Members of Seopi, the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Highway Police, the TSE, as well as representatives of the states and other Federal Government bodies, followed, in real-time, the events recorded during the first round of elections held in the municipalities, except Federal District and Macapá (AP).
Integrated plan
In October, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security presented the Integrated Security Plan for Elections 2020, built by the ministry in conjunction with the state public security departments.
With the help of Seopi, each state developed a risk matrix and outlined preventive and corrective measures for crimes such as exit polls, vote-buying and irregular transportation of voters, for example.
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