The Amnesty Commission held its first public session after four years of the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government this Thursday (30), in Brasília. According to the collegiate, the Commission went through a “de-characterization” under previous governments and now resumes work more connected with original essence.
The group’s objective, according to president Eneá de Stutz e Almeida, is to analyze from 4 to 9 thousand processes that were judged and denied improperly by previous administrations. In an interview with Brazil Agencyshe revealed that, specifically in the Bolsonaro period, there was a systematic strategy of denying mass applications and closing the Commission.
The resumption was marked by the analysis of four processes that had been run over by the Bolsonaro administration, re-victimizing the people involved. Among them was the case of federal deputy Ivan Valente (PSOL-SP).
:: Ivan Valente receives amnesty and apology from the State for persecution during the dictatorship ::
For the Dean of the Commission, Ana Maria Lima, the amnesty process is fundamental for people who had their rights violated during the military dictatorship.
“For many of the amnesty recipients who apply for amnesty, the declaration of political amnesty and the apology are more important than the request for economic reparation. It is the recognition of the rule of law that there has been a violation of the human rights of those who fought for freedom. Economic reparation is just one of the pillars of justice, which must be comprehensive. Not only economic, but psychological and moral reparation for those people who were considered terrorists, as was the case with those who had their case denied by the commission of the previous government and who were revictimized”, he pointed out.
Ana Maria participated in the program Central do Brasil this Friday (31) to talk about the resumption of work by the Amnesty Commission and to analyze how Brazil has dealt with the theme of memory, truth and justice in relation to the 1964 Military Coup, which ends this Saturday (1) 59 years.
:: “Do not touch Dictatorship files”: servers report censorship in the National Archive ::
About the rise of historical denialism in recent years and the proliferation of speeches in defense of the military regime, Ana Maria observes with concern the repercussion of these ideas among youth and argues that the antidote against these behaviors lies in a long-term work through education .
“If we don’t educate teenagers in schools, we won’t be able to avoid repetitions. Brazilian society needs to understand that there was a dictatorship, yes. That democracy was hit and that the people who fought to defend it were arrested and tortured”, he suggested. .
With 15 years of experience at the head of the Amnesty Commission, Ana Maria believes that the group’s work will again be prioritized in the Lula (PT) government and defends that external activities, such as the Amnesty Caravans, take place again, to further expose more the episodes of that authoritarian past.
“Memory is fundamental. It is impossible for a country that has no memory and does not recognize its past to have a future different from the violations of that past. It is necessary that the memory of that past be revealed”, he concluded.
The complete interview with the senior counselor of the Amnesty Commission, Ana Maria Lima, can be seen in this Friday’s (31st) edition of the program Central do Brasil.
Watch the full program now
And there’s more!
Memory of the Dictatorship
In Belo Horizonte, many streets and public facilities still bear the name of people who participated in or supported the civil-military dictatorship in Brazil. Social movements fight so that the memory of crimes committed by the State is not forgotten or normalized. This is what Amélia Gomes’ report shows.
Urban infrastructure
In Fortaleza, a new pedestrian lighting system seeks to reduce the number of pedestrians being run over. Reporter Camilla Lima tells us how the equipment works.
The program Central do Brasil is a production of Brazil in fact. It is displayed from Monday to Friday, live, always at 12:30 pm, by Red TVT and partner public broadcasters.
Editing: Nicolau Soares