Brazil protests counter military coup celebration

[ocpagu]

Riot police used pepper spray and tear gas Thursday to chase protesters away from a celebration by retired soldiers marking the 1964 coup that established Brazil's long military dictatorship.

Former officers have gathered every year to mark the occasion, but now they're facing a growing tide of opposition and had to push through about 200 people screaming "murderer" and holding up photos of those killed during the regime.

Unlike Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, which also had repressive military regimes, Brazil has never had a formal investigation into human rights abuses during its 1964-85 dictatorship. A 1979 amnesty law barred prosecutions for politically motivated crimes committed during the regime.

"Brazil is so far behind on this. This is our history, and it's not told," said protester Maria Auxiliadora Santa Cruz Coelho, the sister of a young student activist who was detained in 1974 by the military and never seen again.

Those who lived it won't forget, she said. "My mother is 98 years old, and she doesn't want to die without knowing what happened to her son. This has been her life."

Read more:
http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-protests-counter-military-coup-celebration-225153308.html

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Some pics:

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/3PqY2EHcqcZEvMECl46SRQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00NDE7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/
An elderly retired military man passes by relatives of tortured and disappeared people while they shout slogans during a protest outside the Military Club in Rio de Janeiro where the military celebrate the 48th anniversary of the 1964 military coup, on March 29

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/bqtrK_LpvsSUV4JUZO5c5g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00MzI7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/
Activists shout "murderer," at a retired military man, center, arriving at a military club in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/RpY2wKdMjVnMmt_Syyl9PA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00NDY7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/
An activist shields herself as a police officer pepper sprays her during a protest outside a military club in downtown Rio de Janeiro

[Judi Lynn]

1. Hope the protests will grow continually, long, long before these predators have all died away.

What a shame these murderous, greedy right-wing clowns in Brazil have always been free to charge straight ahead with their lives, and never have to face the consequences of their torturing, their murdering, their soulless treatment of their fellow members of the human race.

It's time fate allowed them to feel the wrath and disgust they have earned through their evil ways, and may their kind NEVER be allowed to gather power of their former strength, ever again in Brazil.

The Brazilian people would fight it much harder next time, one would think. It's time to raise more consciousness.

[ocpagu]

2. These clowns...

...are already organising fundraisings for a big celebration to mark the 50 years of the "redemptive revolution", as they call it, in 2014.

I intend to be there, to help raining in their parade. I still have hope that, by that time, the outrageous amnesty will be only one more ineffective symbol of their historical cowardice, and people like that 98 year old mother finally can achieve some peace of mind.

I also hope pressure generated by the international community adds to the increasingly frequent requests for our Supreme Court to review its stand on the amnesty law. A big step may be given today by the Organization of American States, which just opened an inquiry into Brazil’s lack of action following the murder of journalsit Vladimir Herzog. The lack of investigation and punishment for those responsible for the murder of Herzog, whose funeral was attended by thousands of mourners, caused widespread indignation among Brazilians and was turning point for the opposition to the military regime.

I know it's quite difficult to find information in English about the recent events concerning the debate on amnesty law and truth commission. Those who are interested may find this blog useful:

http://transitionaljusticeinbrazil.wordpress.com/

[bemildred]

3. Your place in History is secure, guys! nt

[ocpagu]

4. Video, by Carlos Latuff

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