Brasilia, April 19 (RHC)-- At the request of the Institutional Security Office (GSI), Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security has authorized the deployment of personnel from the National Public Security Force for the upcoming April and May protests which are being organized by various sectors of society.

The decision will be implemented in the capital, Brasilia, for 33 days, in order to "preserve public order."  

The GSI informed Agencia Brazil that the measure is preventative and is due to the expected demonstrations on April 24th and 26th by Indigenous groups for the XV Free Land Encampment, and from the end of April until May 1st by worker unions and left-wing parties to march against the pension system reform proposed by President Jair Bolsonaro.

According to the act signed by Sergio Moro -- the judge who ruled on Lula’s imprisonment -- the troops will act to preserve “public order and the safety of people and property, in defense of assets and of the Union.”

The National Force was created in 2004 to support ostensible policing from states that seek assistance from the federal government during episodes of public disorder.  The forces can also act in emergency situations and public calamities and cooperate with federal security agencies.

The troops, which are based in Brasilia, are comprised of military and civilian police, firefighters, and experts from the state and federal district governments available for up to two years.

A federal legislator from the Workers Party (PT), Paulo Pimenta, said it is very serious to use the National Force to patrol the capital. "There is no fact to justify this and no explanation has been offered," the legislator said in a video posted to his Twitter account.