MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bolsonaro describes an Army officer convicted for torture as a “national hero”
Colonel Carlos Alberto Ustra, who died in 2015, headed the Army’s notorious DOI-CODI intelligence unit that was responsible for repressing leftist political opponents 
“He is a national hero who prevented Brazil falling into what the left wants today,” Bolsonaro told reporters before meeting with Ustra’s widow Brazilian far-right President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that an Army officer who was convicted of torture during the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship was a “national hero.”
Colonel Carlos Alberto Ustra, who died in 2015, headed the Army’s notorious DOI-CODI intelligence unit that was responsible for repressing leftist political opponents. During his 2008 trial, witnesses said he personally oversaw torture sessions.
Brazil’s National Truth Commission recorded 45 deaths or disappearances during Ustra’s four years running the unit, as well as 502 cases of torture.
“He is a national hero who prevented Brazil falling into what the left wants today,” Bolsonaro told reporters before meeting with Ustra’s widow.
A former Army captain who came of age under the dictatorship, Bolsonaro has defended the legacy of the military government and has included several retired generals in his cabinet since taking office in January.
In 2016, he eulogized Ustra as he cast his vote to impeach former leftist President Dilma Rousseff, who was jailed and tortured during the dictatorship.
Rousseff said Bolsonaro’s comments were unacceptable coming from the head of a state that is party to international agreements condemning torture as a crime against humanity.
“It is serious that a president extols a notorious torturer and defends torture as a state policy,” she said in a statement.
Last week, Bolsonaro replaced four of the seven members of a commission responsible for investigating disappeared victims of the dictatorship’s “dirty war” against left-wing militants. In their place he appointed military officers and members of right-wing parties.
Asked why, he replied to reporters: “There is a new president; now it is Jair Bolsonaro. Full stop.”
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules-
-
-
Read all commentsBolsanaro and the evangelists that continue to support him, shows their complete lack of morality. As this is the most egregious statement I can ever recall hearing.
Aug 09th, 2019 - 11:44 am +1@Terence Hill
Aug 10th, 2019 - 01:08 pm 0REF: the most egregious statement I can ever recall hearing.
You get worked up too soon! At least let him sh*t peacefully!
https://en.mercopress.com/2019/08/10/eat-less-poop-every-other-day-suggests-bolsonaro-if-you-want-to-save-the-world
BRASILIA, BRAZIL – The Federal Prosecutor for Citizen’s Rights advised the Minister of Justice, Sérgio Moro, to suspend and revoke the ordinance published late last month establishing rules to forbid foreigners who are considered “dangerous” from entering Brazil.
Aug 10th, 2019 - 06:21 pm 0According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), the Ministry of Justice’s ordinance includes “integral and blatant illegality and inconsistency with international human rights treaties signed by the Brazilian Government”. Moro will have five days to inform the MPF as to whether or not he will comply with the recommendation.
However, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) has considered that the rule violates aspects of Brazilian legislation and international treaties to which Brazil is a signatory, such as the Geneva Convention.
According to the prosecutors who signed the recommendation sent to Sérgio Moro, the wording of this new rule, “in addition to overstepping its regulatory authority, violates the fundamental guarantees of full defense and is self-contradictory by stipulating very short deadlines for defense counsel and for appealing the decisions.”
https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/brazil/prosecutors-office-advises-moro-to-repeal-new-deportation-ordinance/
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!