Justice prohibits search engines and swords at Estancia Fogueteiros Festival

The decision also states that the city hall is prohibited from granting permissions or permits for practices in populated areas and must notify businesses about the ban on selling drinks in glass bottles. At the same time, the Association of Residents and Remaining Friends of Quilombo do Porto D’Areia must refrain from organizing, encouraging or allowing the burning of artifacts throughout the neighborhood. The MPE also reported that the request was formulated after a petition from residents and traders who reported structural damage to properties, severe fire risks and danger to the health of children, elderly people and animals in previous editions. The investigations showed that the inspection teams themselves needed to leave the site during the shooting due to the risk, leaving the community vulnerable. “The judicial decision was based on the premise that the right to cultural expression does not have an absolute character when it puts collective security and the right to life at risk”, declared the MPE. In case of non-compliance with the measure or passive tolerance, the Court set a daily compensatory fine of R$ 10 thousand applicable individually to the defendants in case of non-compliance or passive tolerance. Also according to the MPE, the Military Police and the Municipal Guard were called in for overt action. The Superintendency of the Federal Highway Police was also commissioned to create barriers and monitor the flow of vehicles to intercept the irregular transport of fireworks coming from other locations. The MPE informed that the decision can still be appealed. What the city of Estância says The City of Estância released in a statement that it reaffirms its commitment to preserving the traditional Fogueteiros Festival and that it will adopt all appropriate legal measures to seek a review of the decision. Despite this, the management claimed that it will comply with all determinations and adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the population, the preservation of public spaces and the integrated action of the Military Police, Municipal Guard and other competent bodies. The municipal administration also informed that the Fogueteiros Festival is not promoted by the Public Authorities, but by the Porto D'Areia community itself. According to the management, after this cycle, it will propose dialogue with representative entities, security bodies, the Public Ministry and the Judiciary to build solutions that ensure the continuity of the cultural manifestation.