Shortly before the end of his term in office, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro pardoned convicted police officers and soldiers. Members of the security forces and military convicted of negligent offenses who have already served at least one-sixth of their sentences can be released from prison. This emerges from a decree published in the Official Journal on Friday (local time).
Disabled, disabled and seriously ill people are also pardoned. Right-wing head of state Bolsonaro is leaving office after the election victory of left-wing politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the turn of the year.
For example, police officers and soldiers who have killed or injured people during operations could benefit from the amnesty. Ex-military Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that police officers who kill a suspect on duty should not be investigated. Rather, they deserved a medal.
In 2021, security forces in Brazil killed 6,133 people
Brazilian security forces are notorious for robust operations. When the heavily armed special police units move into the slums to fight drug gangs, bystanders are often caught between the fronts. Security forces killed 6,133 people in Brazil last year.
Experts such as law professor Thiago Bottino from Rio de Janeiro were convinced that the decree could also cover 74 police officers convicted of a 1992 massacre at Carandiru prison in São Paulo. 111 inmates were killed during police operations to put down a prison riot.
A total of 74 police officers were convicted of having executed the prisoners, some of them outright. According to media reports, however, they have so far managed to remain free through appeals and delays. If the police officers fall under the pardon, their lawyers can ask the court to have all proceedings dismissed.
Bolsonaro ends commission to search for victims of dictatorship
In mid-December, Bolsonaro had already ended the search for victims of the dictatorship (1964-85) responsible commission. The majority of the commission members appointed by the right-wing populist government voted in favor of the dissolution, the media report. Bolsonaro, who had always scoffed at the search for the victims, apparently wants to send a final signal with the end of the commission.
The commission, which reports to the Ministry for Women, Family and Human Rights, was set up in 1995 by then-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The fact that it is now being dissolved goes against the recommendation of the federal prosecutor’s office, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and civil society organizations such as the human rights commission “Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns”, which is named after the liberation theologian and Archbishop of Sao Paulo (1921-2016).
Bolsonaro’s government argues that the commission is costly and has had little success. However, their work is enshrined in the 1988 constitution that was adopted after the end of the dictatorship. It is estimated that more than 400 people disappeared during the dictatorship. Relatives of the victims’ families are still looking for them.
The ex-military Bolsonaro is a self-confessed supporter of the dictatorship and has repeatedly mocked the victims. One of his insults was that anyone looking for bones was a dog. He had also tried to reverse compensation for dictatorship victims. (dpa, AFP, KNA)
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