International causes set the tone for the Pacotão carnival in Brasília

Pacotão, one of the most traditional street carnival groups in Brasília, famous for its good humor and criticism of national politics, expanded horizons and, in the 2024 edition, gave special emphasis to groups of revelers who had an “international cause” to call of yours.

The bloc's official front line was in charge of the Solidarity Committee with the Palestinian People of the Federal District. The difficult situation of other peoples, such as those of Burkina Faso and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic – better known as Western Sahara – also included this range of complaints against governments and rulers who, according to revelers, do not respect human dignity.

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The reputation of a politicized block attracted André Constantino, 48, from Rio, to the point that he left Rio de Janeiro's carnival behind to come and get to know “that Pacotão” up close. “I ran away from Rio because it gets very crowded at that time. I prefer carnivals like this, like the one here. It’s calmer,” he said.

Burkina Faso

Constantino lives in Morro da Babilônia and is part of the National Movement of Favelas and Peripheries. The carioca was wearing a shirt with the image of Thomas Sankara, former president of Burkina Faso, a country located in Western Africa. “He was a democratic and popular revolutionary. He unfortunately suffered a coup d’état financed by the French government,” he explained.

The choice of clothing was motivated by the atmosphere of “dialogue with the masses” that is allowed during carnival. “I now want to join the Wing of the Palestinian Cause”, he added when referring to the group that was already positioning itself to begin the bloc’s historic journey, going against the W3 – one of the roads in the federal capital.

Palestine

The Wing of the Palestinian Cause mentioned by him had, among its organizers, the journalist Pedro Batista, 60 years old, member of the Solidarity Committee with the People of Palestine. “We are here to show the suffering, genocide and extermination that is being carried out against the residents of Gaza,” he said.

“And, like art, carnival is also a space for denunciation. Otherwise, it is nothing more than a pasteurization of the cultural industry to leave people alienated. Art and carnival, when it doesn't bother you, is just decoration. Whether in carnival, music, cinema or poetry, art exists to defend life and human dignity,” she added.

Some revelers were wearing t-shirts referring to Hamas, such as public servant Ieri Júnior, 34, who, in an interview with Brazil Agencyargued that the group acts against military targets, in “resistance for the liberation of Palestine, in defense of those oppressed by Israeli imperialism”

Western Sahara

Carrying a flag very similar to that of Palestine, another group took advantage of the bloc's crowd to talk about the occupation of two-thirds of the territory of a country little known to Brazilians: Western Sahara (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic).

“This is a cause that we have defended since 1975”, said psychologist Toninho Andrade, 70 years old “Western Sahara was a Spanish colony. After freeing itself from Spain, it was invaded and occupied by Morocco and, since then, it has sought independence,” he added, referring to the only Arab country whose official language is Spanish.

The defenders of the cause took, to Pacotão, the representative of the Polisário Front, which leads the Saharawi people in Brazil, Ahamed Mulay Ali Hamadi. According to him, 84 countries already recognize Western Sahara. “Unfortunately, Brazil still does not recognize us. I’m here trying to make people aware of our history,” he told Brazil Agency the representative, who added that he was in negotiations to try to have the country recognized by the Brazilian government.

The Western Sahara region in Africa has been in dispute for more than 40 years between the Sahrawi people and Morocco. In South America, Brazil, Argentina and Chile are the only countries that still do not recognize their sovereignty.

National theme

At the end of the block, was the fanfare group Muralha Antifascista, with repertoires that ranged from Pink Floyd (with the song Another Brick in the Walla critique of the British educational system) to Raul Seixas (with the song Alternative societywhich proposes a break with traditional patterns).

“We were born as a movement critical of the Bolsonaro government, but we have also moved towards other causes, such as feminist causes”, said group member Eudaldo Sobrinho, 38 years old.

The national theme was also present on the shirt of agricultural engineer João Neto, 75 years old, which printed the face of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF, on the body of one of the Spartan warriors from the film 300. “Xandão deserved the honor because he managed to hold his hands legal reins in the defense of democracy”.