Brazil/‘In Rio de Janeiro, the Militia Isn’t a Parallel Power. It’s the Government.’

June 15th, 2019, A Pública https://apublica.org (Brasil) https://apublica.org/2019/06/in-rio-de-janeiro-the-militia-isnt-a-parallel-power-its-the-government/

Mariana Simões

English

In the following interview, a sociologist who has studied Rio de Janeiro’s [vigilante off-duty police] militias for 26 years explains the relationship between lawmakers and militia members and says that the Bolsonaro family is the political heir of representatives linked to extermination groups that were active in the 1990s.

In January, during a police raid dubbed Operation Untouchables, members of the militia that operates in Rio das Pedras, in Rio’s West Zone, were arrested. One of the targets of the operation was former Military Police captain Adriano Magalhães da Nóbrega, accused of heading the Rio das Pedras militia and taking part in the Crime Bureau death squad—currently under investigation for the murder of Rio city councilor Marielle Franco. His mother and wife took part in the cabinet of Flávio Bolsonaro (son of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro) in the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (ALERJ). Flávio Bolsonaro also awarded Nóbrega with the Tiradentes Medal, the greatest honor granted by ALERJ.

The news didn’t come as a surprise to José Cláudio Souza Alves, author of the book “From the Barons to Extermination: A History of Violence in the Baixada Fluminense”. A sociologist and former associate dean of academic extension programs at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Alves has studied the militias for the last 26 years. In an interview with Agência Pública, he vehemently summarizes: “The militia is the government.”

‘They are formed by government agents themselves—assassins and militia members who are also representatives and city council members. A militia member is the

E.Timor may force election

Dili, Sep 18, 2009 - East Timor's opposition threatened on Friday to force an early election in an escalating row with the government over the release of an Indonesian militia leader accused of crimes against humanity.

Fretilin party spokesman Jose Teixeira told AFP the party will 'seriously consider' pulling out of parliament if a motion to censure the government of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is not passed by parliament.

Fretilin, which controls 21 of the parliament's 65 seats, submitted the motion on Monday over the Gusmao government's decision last month to release militia leader Martenus Bere.

'We can't continue to be a part of what has become a violation of law,' Mr Teixeira said.

'If the censure does not go through, we can't see any way out,' he said, adding the withdrawal of Fretilin's MPs would be enough to automatically force an election.

Bere was arrested after crossing into East Timor on August 8, five years after being indicted for his role in a string of human rights violations including the 1999 Suai church massacre in which up to 200 people were killed.

The United Nations' human rights representative in East Timor on Tuesday criticised government 'interference' in freeing the militia leader. But Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta have said reconciliation with giant neighbour Indonesia is more important than dwelling on past abuses.

At least 100,000 people were estimated to have died during Indonesia's 24-year occupation of East Timor, which ended with bloody violence surrounding a 1999 UN-backed independence vote. (AFP)

WALK OUT OF TIMOR-LESTE PARLIAMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VICTIMS

Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente (FRETILIN)
MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, 7 September 2009

A walkout by FRETILIN MPs today brought the Timor-Leste parliament to a halt, for lack of quorum. The MPs walked out in protest at decision of the Gusmao de facto government to free the militia leader, Martenus Bere, who is alleged to be responsible for the murder, abduction, rape, deportation and persecution of many Timorese in Suai during the violence in 1999.

One of Bere’s alleged victims was a young girl called Alola – the very person form whom Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the wife of the Prime Minister, named her charitable foundation for the women of Timor Leste.

Speaking to journalist after the walkout in Dili today, FRETILIN leader, Aniceto Guterres, said that it was also an act of solidarity for victims whose rights had been trampled by the release of Bere. Mr Guterres headed a human rights advocacy organization during the Indonesian occupation.

“This time their hypocrisy was too much,” said Guterres. “After this violation of domestic and international law, they had the audacity to send their Foreign Affairs Minister to the parliament to discuss the proposed draft law on Treaties and Conventions? It all seemed too cruel a charade for us to partake in, when it is clear that they have no intention on abiding by international laws and norms. When it is very clear that they have no respect for the rule of law or the principle of separation of powers.

“The victims of the violence in 1999 have had their constitutional rights to justice trampled all over. They are still thirsting for justice. The sentiment displayed by the victions and their families since the release of this militia leader has been remarkable. One of the victims listed in the indictment of Bere is Juliana dos Santos , also known as Alola. The Prime Minister’s wife, Kirsty Sword Gusmao named the ALOLA Foundation after her. There are many other victims who want this man to face justice for the terror he heaped on people. Now it looks highly unlikely that he will,” Guterres said.

Alola’s father Manuel Soares was reported by Agence France Press on 6 September 2009 saying, “For the victims, everything is ruined and broken. I came here today to get away from the feeling.”

AFP further reports him saying angrily, “We want justice, but it never happens. They release all the criminals and all the people who were involved in the killings. If the government or the UN dared enough, they could go and arrest the militias,” adding, "They are all liars. They just talk and make promises. All the organizations who claim they help victims, they are just talking and talking.”

Mr Guterres expressed astonishment that the parties in the government coalition today showed so little support for calling the government to account for this scandalous decision. “Government MPs complained about other mundane issues instead. Only one MP inadequately defended their actions saying that it had to be done to maintain stability in Timor-Leste. Another said that unless Bere was released there could have been persecution of Timorese students in West Timor .

“We don’t believe that Indonesia could not have guaranteed the safety of Timorese living in Indonesia . There was no support from these MPs for the rights of victims and their families. We believe our walk-out was an appropriate act of solidarity for justice for the victims of violence in our country,” Guterres said in closing.

For further information, please contact Jose Teixeira MP on +670 728 7080

SEARCH Foundation, http://www.search.org.au
Level 3, 110 Kippax St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia, Ph: +61 2 9211 4164; Fax: +61 2 9211 1407, ABN 63 050 096 976

UN condemns East Timor militia leader’s “release”

Dili, 1 September 2009 (AFP) - The United Nations condemned Tuesday the reported release of an Indonesian former militia leader accused of taking part in a massacre of civilians in East Timor in 1999.

"If the reports are true, his release is contrary to the Security Council resolutions which set up the UN Mission in (East Timor) and seriously undermines the global principle of accountability for crimes against humanity," Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokeswoman Marie Okabe said in a statement.

The UN said earlier this week that the suspect, Martenus Bere, had been released Sunday ahead of national celebrations commemorating 10 years since East Timor won independence from Indonesia in a UN-backed referendum.

The government has refused to confirm Bere's release amd the UN appeared to backtrack on Tuesday, saying in a separate statement that its mission in Dili was "not in a position to comment" on Bere's circumstances.

Bere was detained in East Timor on August 8, five years after being indicted for his role in the 1999 Suai Church massacre, in which up to 200 people were killed.

"The UN's firm position is that there can be no amnesty or impunity for serious crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide," Okabe said.

"In that context, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights strongly opposes the release of someone for whom an arrest warrant of this nature has been established."

East Timor's leadership has been criticised for opposing prosecution for those responsible for abuses during Indonesia's bloody 1975-1999 occupation of the half-island, which killed around 100,000 people.

President Jose Ramos-Horta says restoring good relations with Indonesia is more important than "prosecutorial justice", and has said he will not let his country be used as an "experiment" in international justice.

The opposition Fretilin party however says he is out of touch with the East Timorese people, many of whom continue to demand justice for gross human rights abuses committed during the Indonesian occupation.

Action ALERT/East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

Petition to Urge President-elect Obama not to appoint former Adm. Dennis Blair

Sign the petition now! http://www.petitiononline.com/blair01/petition.html

Urge President-elect Obama not to appoint former Adm. Dennis Blair as Director of National Intelligence. As Commander in the Pacific, he cozied up to the Indonesian military and downplayed human rights concerns in the lead up and aftermath of East Timor's independence referendum. According to news reports, Obama will appoint his intelligence chief this week.

For background go here - http://etan.org/news/2008/12blair.htm.

In addition to signing the petition, you can also cut, paste and modify the text below and post it to President-elect Obama's transition website. Just go here: http://change.gov/page/s/seattable and send a comment.

Thank you and spread the word! ETAN


President-elect Obama -

We urge you not to appoint Adm. Dennis Blair as Director of National Intelligence. During his years as Pacific Commander, Blair actively worked to reinstate military assistance and deepen ties to Indonesia's military, despite its ongoing human rights violations in East Timor and its consistent record of impunity. In 1999, he undermined the U.S. efforts to support human rights and self-determination in the Indonesian-occupied territory and opposed congressional efforts to limit assistance.

In April 1999, just days after Indonesian security forces and their militias carried out a brutal, churchyard massacre, Adm. Blair delivered a message of 'business-as-usual' to Indonesian General Wiranto, then Commander of the Indonesian armed forces. Following East Timor's pro-independence vote, Blair sought the quickest possible restoration of military assistance, despite Indonesia's highly destructive exit and the failure, which continues to this day, to prosecute the senior officials who oversaw the violence.

This lack of concern for human rights shows that he is unlikely to be a champion of reform. I don't believe that this is the kind of change people are expecting.

http://www.etan.org/action/2006/29alert.htm