Image taken on Aug. 17, 2019 shows a raging fire in the Amazon rainforest in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. Data from the National Institute for Space Research show that the number of forest fires in Brazil soared by 82 percent from January to August this year compared to the same period last year. (Dida Sampaio/AGENCIA ESTADO/Handout via Xinhua)
The president said his administration has "zero tolerance" of crimes in general and he will not act differently in the environmental area.
He also announced his decision to allow the use of Armed Forces troops and resources to help put out the fires.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro pledged "zero tolerance" of environmental crimes on Friday evening as the fires in the Amazon rainforest continue to spread.
In a speech broadcast on TV and radio, the president said his administration has "zero tolerance" of crimes in general and he will not act differently in the environmental area. He also announced his decision to allow the use of Armed Forces troops and resources to help put out the fires.
"The Armed Forces troops and resources will be used not only for fighting illegal activities but also for containing the advance of fires in the region," he said.
In the speech, he attributed the fires to the dry season in the Amazon rainforest region, a change from his previous stance.
Earlier this week, the president blamed non-governmental organizations for setting the fires deliberately in order to damage the economy and affect his administration without giving proof. Later, he said it was possible that local farmers set the fires for more pastures.
The Amazon rainforest fires have raised international concerns. Leaders of several European countries have expressed their worries about them.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the situation an international crisis and said the subject will be discussed in the meeting of the Group of Seven in southern France.
"We're very concerned about these fires," UN secretary-general's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.
