Brazil recently is going through a serious crisis involving different sectors of the federal government. This crisis is being very well managed by President Lula, but it is too soon to know how far the country can go through any institutional crisis. Let see the facts, shall we?
Brazilian Army training
More than 30 years ago it was created an Amnesty Law here in Brazil, allowing Brazilians who had been expelled by the military dictatorship to return to the country. This was the action of the government that allowed the end dictatorship here, therefore, was also granted amnesty to military and police during which more than 20 years tortured and killed thousands of citizens during the military regime.
It was good because it allowed the return of thousands, on the other hand, “pardoned” psychopaths who worked for the government. The use of the word “psychopath” is not an exaggeration, because people (hundreds or thousands, perhaps we will never know) were killed and tortured (in a very medieval style).
The Minister of Justice, Tarso Genro, wants to revise the Amnesty Law, saying that the government would change that law. The reaction of the military was immediate. Several generals began to complain and the Defence Minister Nelson Jobim was forced to calm them down.
The fear of the military is real because many may go to jail. Moreover, an important part of members of that administration was persecuted by the military in the 60 and 70. The situation has changed and the persecuted may become the persecutors. That would bring justice to thousands and undoubtedly is the wish of millions of Brazilians.
Instruments of torture
This is the good side to revise the Law on Amnesty, but things are not as simple as in Brazil. There is a danger in modify this law, which is annoying the military. I don’t need to say that they will not be waiting that law changes to take some kind of attitude. Especially against this government, which has much to hide, even foreign relations with the FARC.
Probably that is why President Lula intervened to try to normalize the situation, saying that the revision of a law is not his task, but something that the Judiciary should do.
