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The Street
The Street
Luc Olinga

Elon Musk Addresses Riot-Ridden Brazil

Elon Musk remains a global CEO, closely following and commenting on global geopolitical news. 

Sometimes the serial entrepreneur comments via questions and requests directed to him on Twitter by users. 

One of his biggest accomplishments on the international stage was the supply of Starlink internet services to Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February.

Starlink is a secure and independent satellite internet access service developed by SpaceX, a rocket company Musk founded. The service has become the communication system for the Ukrainian forces at the front lines. It also enables Ukrainians to bypass Russian propaganda and tell their daily stories in time of war. 

Musk Calls For a Peaceful Solution

Beyond Ukraine, Starlink has become a window of freedom for populations living under dictatorships, such as Iran, where protesters against the ayatollahs' regime demand the service.

In addition to Starlink, Musk also intends to make Twitter a bastion of free speech as long as the messages do not violate the law.

It is in this context that the tech mogul, who wants to transform civilization as we know it, has reacted to the riots that broke out on Jan. 8 in Brazil.

"I hope that the people of Brazil are able to resolve matters peacefully," Musk tweeted on Twitter.

Musk's message is more measured compared to the messages he posted last December after the elections in Brazil. 

The billionaire seemed to side with supporters of right-wing former President Jair Bolsanaro, who lost to the leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Each side accused the other regarding the disinformation spread by the two men's allies on social media. Lula fans call Bolsanaro a cannibal, while Bolsanaro supporters call Lula a satanist.

"I’ve seen a lot of concerning tweets about the recent Brazil election," Musk said on Dec. 3. "If those tweets are accurate, it’s possible that Twitter personnel gave preference to left wing candidates."

Almost two weeks later, Musk doubled down: "Twitter may have people on the Brazil team that are strongly politically biased," the billionaire said on Dec. 14.

After these tweets, it's interesting to see the billionaire calling on both sides to opt for peace. He does not condemn either side.

Bolsonaro Supporters Invade Presidential Palace

On Jan. 8 thousands of supporters of Bolsonaro invaded the presidential palace, the Supreme Court and the Congress in Brasilia, according to images broadcast on social networks and broadcast by Brazilian media. 

The attacks, coming a week after Lula was inaugurated, were designed to protest what they falsely claim was a stolen election. Lula defeated Bolsonaro on Oct. 30 in a close election. Since then, Bolsanaro and his supporters have focused their attacks on the Brazilian voting system.

Lula has announced a security operation to put an end to the riots.

The area near the Three Powers Square, where the Planalto Presidential Palace, the Supreme Court and the Congress meet, had been cordoned off by the authorities, but the Bolsonarists managed to break the security cordons. 

The images on social networks show rioters, dressed in yellow and green, storming the centers of power in Brasilia. 

The startling images of the riots resemble the violence perpetrated on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to prevent the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Traveling to Sao Paolo, Lula denounced these incidents committed by "fascists" and "fanatics" who "will be punished with the full force of the law". He decreed a "federal intervention" by the police to regain security within the capital.

The Supreme Court has said security forces regained control of the building.

At least 200 people were arrested.

Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida 48 hours before the end of his term.

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