Brazil's ruling workers disapprove anti-Obama demonstrations

2011-03-19 10:16:51

BRASILIA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's ruling Workers' Party on Friday said it disapproved of its members who want to participate in demonstrations against U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to the South American country this weekend.

Humberto Costa, ruling party leader in the Senate, recommended that the party commit to act as the corner stone of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff's government, adding that participation in anti-Obama protests would be subject to a political incoherence.

"The party must act as the main ally of the government and not just as a party linked to social movements," he said.

Organizations including the Movement of Landless Workers, the National Students Union and a number of labor groups issued a manifesto declaring Obama a "persona non grata" and promised to organize demonstrations on Sunday during his visit to Rio de Janeiro.

The party leadership on Thursday said it would be against party officials to participate in the anti-Obama demonstration, but also said it had no intention to punish or sanction members who do so.

"Everyone is responsible for their own actions," said Costa. Brazil's workers party, the largest left-wing party, was in the past known to have an "anti-imperialist" agenda, but following the election of Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva to president from 2003 to 2010, the party had adopted more moderate positions.

Obama will arrive in Brazil's capital of Brasilia Saturday and will be in Rio de Janeiro Sunday, after which he will continue his Latin American tour to Chile and El Salvador. The visit marks Obama's first trip to Central and South America since he took office in January 2008.

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