Brazil's Lula takes step to open "Dirty War" files

[bemildred]

SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva issued a decree on Thursday making it easier for the government to open previously sealed documents related to the 1964-85 military dictatorship.

Under pressure from human rights groups and victims of the dictatorship's "Dirty War" against opponents, Lula revoked a previous decree by president Fernando Henrique Cardoso that had allowed documents to remain classified forever.

The new decree says that documents can only be kept under wraps for up to 60 years, depending on their level of secrecy. The lowest-level files can only be classified for up to 20 years.

"It's an important first step, but it's only a first step," said Cecilia Coimbra, vice-president of rights group Torture Never Again.


Tehran Times

[villager]

1. America has needed a "truth commission"

...for 40 or more years. When one finally happens, it will permanently melt/blow a lot of minds...

[dems4israel]

2. sounds like a bad news source

You actually trust what you read in the Tehran times?

[bemildred]

3. I don't trust anything I read anywhere. nt