Brazil must scrap Amnesty Law: rights group

[ocpagu]

Brazil must revoke a law that prevents those responsible for executions and rape during the 1964-1985 military government from being investigated and prosecuted, rights group Amnesty International urged Friday.

The London-based charity called on President Dilma Rousseff to repeal the 1979 Amnesty Law that protects those suspected of "torture, extra-legal executions, enforced disappearances and rape" during the 21-year rule from being probed.

"This law is a scandal and doing nothing but preventing justice," said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-must-scrap-amnesty-law-rights-group-020236642.html

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The European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee criticised the Brazilian government for not reviewing the law and OAS may punish Brazil for the same reason. I'm with them in this one.

Although Brazil is a today a relatively solid democracy, this present status was achieved by the 1980s "social consensus", whose terms were dictated by the ones who were in power. The military junta made it sure it would be legally impossible for them to be prosecuted by their crimes and their plan to avoid taking responsability over their acts is still strongly supported by the a large share of the Brazilian elite, big corporations and businessmen ("Operação Bandeirante"), the mainstream press (the biggest Brazilian newspaper, Folha de S. Paulo, closely colaborated with the military junta in transporting people to be tortured) and the justice system. They were too involved to allow this law to change. Dilma promissed she wouldn't change the law to get elected. That was a mistake I hope she reconsiders.

[rabs]

1. I wonder ...

... how many of the military officers who ordered/carried out the torture and other abuses are still alive. I would assume that most would be in their 70s and 80s by now.

In Argentina, Chile, Uruguay a lot of the officers who carried out torture have died of old age, or are about to.

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Btw, one of my favorite protest songs of the time was Cayetano's London London.

I still listen to it now and then and never tire of it ....

"while my eyes go looking for flying saucers in the sky ..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM_2EdyytaU

:hi:

[ocpagu]

2. Most really are

in their 70s or older, many have already died, including all executive chiefs of the military junta. It would be good to see justice being made while some of these tortures are still alive, though.

PS - "London, London" is one of my favorites among Veloso's songs. I love his minimalistic definition of London ("Green grass, grey skies, blue eyes, God bless"). Another of my favorites among Brazilian protest songs is "Cartomante" by Ivan Lins, which became famous sung by Elis Regina. If you can understand some Portuguese, you'll see it carries quite a powerful message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmBtW3XFGWU

[rabs]

3. Boeing in Brasilia

A few days ago I read an interesting article that the Boeing company had set up a combat flight simulator at the entrance to the Congress in Brasilia. (Can't remember where I saw the story offhand.)

The story said Boeing is lobbying Dilma's government to buy U.S. F-18 warplanes in a multi-billion dollars deal. The Brazilian Air Force commanders have said they favor the warplanes made by Saab in Sweden, while Lulu was leaning to the French combat aircraft.

Did you see any of this in Estadao or Folha? Anyway, was wondering whether there was any reaction from either the government or the public in general.

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Re Cartomante, looked up the letra and followed it along with Elis. I can see how it became a protest song, but in subtle words.

It reminds me of Chico Buarque's "A Pesar de você," which to me was a strong message to the milicos of the time --- "in spite of you, tomorrow will be another day ..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZNNUU_AbXs&feature=related

(I did not know Elis died of an apparent overdose in 1981).


Nos dias de hoje é bom que se proteja
Ofereça a face pra quem quer que seja
Nos dias de hoje esteja tranqüilo
Haja o que houver pense nos seus filhos

Não ande nos bares, esqueça os amigos
Não pare nas praças, não corra perigo
Não fale do medo que temos da vida
Não ponha o dedo na nossa ferida

Nos dias de hoje não lhes dê motivo
Porque na verdade eu te quero vivo
Tenha paciência, Deus está contigo
Deus está conosco até o pescoço

Já está escrito, já está previsto
Por todas as videntes, pelas cartomantes
Tá tudo nas cartas, em todas as estrelas
No jogo dos búzios e nas profecias

Cai o rei de Espadas
Cai o rei de Ouros
Cai o rei de Paus
Cai não fica nada.(6x)

http://letras.terra.com.br/elis-regina/209463/

[ocpagu]

4. This warplane story is already becoming a soap opera.

You've summarized the situation quite well. Personally, I've found the Saab's bid quite interesting. They're cheaper and Sweden offered 100% transfer of technology. Lula at the time was more interested in using the military deal to forge a political alliance with France, but this seems unlikely to happen, at least in the level he desired. Most of my friends prefer the Rafale, though.

Dilma so far has been postponing the decision. I've read she prefers the Saab as well, but she has refused to make public statements about that. Estadão has been making almost a public campaing for Boeing, and Folha de S. Paulo clearly prefers the Saab.

[ocpagu]

5. Carlos Latuff's cartoon...

...on this subject.