Last Tuesday (15), representing the UE-AM, Francisco Braz (operational coordinator), Adjalma Jaques (coordinator of Dissemination), Argemiro Neto (area coordinator) and census analysts Jéssica Santos and Matheus Dinardi went to the Military Command of the Amazon (CMA) to meet General Achilles Furlan Neto and his team, aiming at requesting the Brazilian Army logistical, structural and security support for the IBGE enumerators and supervisors during the Population Census operation in the borders and special areas in Amazonas and other states of the North Region under the control of the CMA.

During the meeting, Francisco Braz, operational coordinator of the Census in Amazonas, talked about the IBGE needs to carry out the Census, requesting the use of the structure of the Special Border Platoons (PEFs), as well as the granting of vessels in areas close to the PEFs; use of lodging structures for enumerators, supervisors and in-transit teams; granting of Internet services already used by PEFs to transmit and receive data in the equipment of enumerators and supervisors; support in the transportation of fuel to PEFs, and storage of fuel for later use by data collection teams in areas close to the platoons. Moreover, the coordinator also requested logistical and security support in areas with safety restrictions and difficult access.

Adjalma Jaques, from the Coordination of Dissemination, also requested support from the Army in the dissemination of information about the 2022 Census. The plan is that both the Verde Oliva Radio and the CMA´s digital channels disseminate the contents about the census operation. In addition, he requested that the military villages are informed about the future visit of the enumerators, by affixing displays in these villages.

The IBGE committed to establish a work plan in advance, including the required workforce and planned period. In addition, a joint budget will be presented, including expected expenses with fuel, maintenance of vessels, feeding of teams and operational support, case any payment is required to support a riverside population.

As a result of the meeting, commander Furlan stated that the IBGE can count with the Brazilian Army and that he is available to help in the 2022 Census. The commander stated that some requests are easy, others more complex, yet all of them feasible. Nevertheless, this meeting was only the first step for the IBGE to establish the partnership. The next step is to direct all the requests to the Ministry of Defense and then the cooperation can be launched.

Meeting also at the 3rd Jungle Infantry Battalion

Like in Manaus, representatives of the UE-AM met last Thursday (17) the commander of the 3rd Jungle Infantry Battalion (3rd BIS), Lieutenant-Colonel Márcio Weber de Menezes, aiming at approaching local military leaders.

The 3rd BIS, also known as Ararigboia Regiment, is a unit of the Brazilian Army located in Barcelos, in Amazonas, and linked with the 2nd Jungle Infantry Brigade, headquartered in São Gabriel da Cachoeira.

Ilcleson Mendes, head of the IBGE in Amazonas, and Carlos Enock, the area coordinator, were also present in the meeting.

The meeting followed the agenda with the CMA, highlighting the need for logistical support to access border communities in the municipality of Barcelos.