MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil: Some Sunday riot detainees released for humanitarian reasons

The release for humanitarian reasons does not mean that they are will not be arraigned. Some of the detainees might be summoned by the prosecution at a later date

Brazilian Police Tuesday released 599 people who were arrested in the aftermath of Sunday's storming and looting of the headquarters of the three branches of government in Brasilia.

Elderly, sick, and homeless people were set free “for humanitarian reasons” in addition to mothers with children, the authorities explained, after over 1,500 supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro had been arrested following Sunday's riots, seeking to remove President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva through a military uprising.

The released individuals were confined in a gymnasium of the National Academy of the Federal Police in the Brazilian capital. Many opposition voices had dubbed the facilities as a modern-time concentration camp.

Upon their release, some of the beneficiaries of the measure were transported in buses to a station from where they were able to return to their homes, while others were taken to the Papuda penitentiary, according to AFP. The release “does not necessarily” mean that they are free of charges, and some of them may be called in for prosecution at a later date, a Federal Police spokesman told EFE.

“Now we are going to rest and prepare for a new fight because if they think they are going to intimidate us, they are very wrong,” Augustinho Ribeiro, one of the freed bolsonaristas who complained about the “humiliating” treatment in the gym where he was held, told AFP.

Federal Police denied reports that an elderly woman had died on Monday at its academy headquarters. The 1,500 detainees participated in the assault or were in an encampment set up two months ago in front of an army headquarters from where they were demanding a military intervention against Lula.

For the moment, 527 people have been formally arrested for the attacks. About 300 of them were arrested on Sunday during the riots, while the others were captured a day later in an encampment of Bolsonaristas in front of the Army Headquarters.

According to the Police, “all processes are being monitored, uninterruptedly” by several entities such as the Brazilian Bar Association, the Fire Brigade, the Federal District Health Secretariat, and the Federal Public Defender's Office, it was explained. ”They are all receiving regular food (breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner), hydration, and medical care when necessary,” the statement said.

The situation of the detainees is also being closely monitored by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This follows allegations that the rights of some of the detainees had been violated.

After some of the detainees posted messages on social media denouncing the allegedly inhumane conditions of their arrest, the Ministry of Human Rights said Tuesday in a statement that it was monitoring the issue together with the Ministry of Justice.