President says government must act immediately with prosecutions

[WhiteTara]

Oh, you thought in our country? No, this is Brazil. They got their torture report today.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/brazils-leader-fights-tears-as-report-uncovers-dictatorships-legacy-of-torture/article22022102/

A harsh light cast on Brazil’s dark past of dictatorship torture STEPHANIE NOLEN - RIO DE JANEIRO — The Globe and Mail

The report names 377 alleged perpetrators, of whom about half are still alive, and calls for them to face prosecution, saying that a controversial amnesty law must be repealed and does not protect those who committed abuses due to the extreme nature of their crimes.

“I said Brazil deserves the truth: the new generations deserve the truth,” Ms. Rouseff said in Brasilia as she was given the report, referring to her remarks at the inauguration of the commission in 2011. “And most of all, those who lost family members, friends, companions and continue to suffer, as if they died again each and every day: they deserve the truth.”

At that point the President had to pause to fight back tears. “We, who believe in the truth, hope that this report contributes to make it so that ghosts from a sad and painful past are no longer able to find shelter in silence.”
snip
Ms. Affonso called it troubling that no representatives of the national prosecuting authority were on hand at the small event in Brasilia where Ms. Rousseff received the report and said international law makes it clear that her government must act immediately on prosecutions. “This doesn’t simply end with the report’s publication … The state is obliged, the moment they are informed, they deliver this to the relevant authorities. It’s not about politics, it’s an obligation.”

[frazzled]

1. Immediately?

This report covers "the period from 1946 to 1988, with the main focus on the dictatorship that ruled from 1964 to 1985."

We're talking about internal disappearances of citizens and torture of political opponents that occurred 40 to 50 years ago. That's hardly immediate.

If that's immediate action, we've got another thirty years before we need to act.

[robbob]

3. Yeah, I guess we could wait 30 years

I would prefer we address this issue now.

Instead of burying it under the rug for 30 years.


...and don't forget, the USA funded a lot of the dirty wars in Central and South America. Trained some of the torturers, in fact. It's like chickens coming home to roost.

[sabrina 1]

5. They have been prosecuting war criminals in Latin America for a number

of years now. Yes, it took a long time because they had to free their countries from the right wing rule that caused these atrocities, sometimes with OUR help, to happen.

And it may take 30 years here also. Which is why it should be stopped before it begins.

Which is why we hoped to stop it way back when it began. Some of our Dems in Congress tried to stop it, Kucinich eg, who introduced a bill of Impeachment. He sadly didn't get a whole lot of support from his fellow Congressmembers.

But he can be proud of the fact that he tried. Too bad we didn't hundreds like him.

[DeSwiss]

2. She speaks with the knowledge and authority of a.....

...of a victim of torture.

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- K&R

[ReRe]

8. That's a great picture of her when she was young.

She is one strong lady. I look forward to hearing about the dictatorship monsters being held accountable for their atrocities all those years ago.

[Overseas]

4. K&R.

[Hulk]

6. Had me fooled...

I thought hell had frozen over for a moment. NOT in AmeriKKKa.

[world wide wally]

7. The headline caught my attention.

I thought it was actually an "act of courage" in the Land of the brave?
No such thing…. i think Santa Claus is more likely to be true than seeing an act of courage in this country these days.

[Peace Patriot]

9. in the U.S., we're told that "we need to look forward not backward...

...on the crimes of the rich and powerful."

They teach that at Harvard Law School.