Navy expels beach visitors for Lula’s dip in the Tapajós River

Bathers who enjoyed the morning of Sunday (6) at Araria beach, on the Tapajós river (PA), claim to have been expelled from the site by Federal Police agents and Navy boats to accommodate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and your entourage. Videos published on social networks show the moment of the approach and the arrival of the security vessels.

According to reports from bathers, about seven boats, each with approximately 20 families, were on Araria beach when they were approached by the authorities. Neemias Costa, stated that the approach took place around 10 am, after his arrival at the beach, when he had already obtained authorization from the Santarém River Captaincy to carry out the tour.

“We went through the procedures to go through the Santarém River Captaincy and our boat was released for the tour. When it was about 10:00, a boat from the Captaincy arrived and another with federal police. They asked us to leave the beach, because the president’s boat was going to dock there. We were upset about it, we were at our leisure and there was authorization,” he told Newspaper.

The controversy surrounding the action to remove bathers from the beach has generated discussions about the security procedures surrounding the presidential visit. The repercussions on social networks also drew attention to the situation, which raised questions about the balance between the president’s safety and the rights of local citizens to enjoy public spaces.

Other bathers confirmed the version and also reported having been expelled from the site by the Navy, despite having received prior information about the possibility of going to the beach.

Gleide Lucinha Castro, a resident of Santarém, said she had never been in a similar situation the other times she visited the same beach. Production assistant Fábio Monteiro also confirmed the approach of the military and the subsequent expulsion of bathers.

“We had already posted our nets on the trees when the Navy personnel arrived and said that it was forbidden, that we all had to get out of there”, said domestic worker Adriane dos Santos, who was also on the beach and had to leave.

When contacted, the Presidency of the Republic did not comment on the incident. The Navy, in turn, reported that it is investigating the facts and working to clarify the situation.

President Lula is visiting the Alter do Chão region and has been accompanied by Federal Police and Navy agents during the tour. This Monday (7), he is going to participate in an event in Santarém, at 11 am, and then head to Belém, where he will participate in the Amazon Summit that officially starts on Tuesday (8).