Alckmin denounced in UN for repression of protests
At a meeting of the Human Rights Council, Conectas criticizes police violence, illegal detention and infiltration by military agent
São Paulo- SP- Brasil- 29/08/2016- Manifestação contra o governo interino de Michel Temer, na avenida Paulista. Foto: Paulo Pinto/ AGPT
São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin was the subject today, September 19, of a complaint in the United Nations Human Rights Council on account of the police repression of demonstrators protesting the government of Michel Temer.
In the statement, made just days before President Temer’s speech at the opening of the UN General Assembly, Conectas Human Rights criticized “the growing process of criminalization of the right to protest in Brazil” and requested a statement from the Council and from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights against this conduct.
According to Conectas, police violence has claimed several victims since early September, among them the 19-year-old Deborah Fabri, who lost the use of her left eye after being struck by shrapnel from a tear gas canister.
The organization also mentioned the illegal detention of 26 people – among them, eight adolescents – just hours before the protest staged on September 4 and the involvement, in this operation, of an undercover military agent. “This practice is reminiscent of darker days in our region’s history. Society and the international community should react with vehement condemnation,” it said.
- Click here to read the statement in full.
The Brazilian government requested the right to respond and explained that the incidents are being investigated by the proper authorities. It also stated that the country defends the democratic rule of law and recognizes the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Brazilian Campaign
The complaint against Brazil occurred in the midst of a campaign by the government to guarantee the country’s election to the Human Rights Council – the main body for monitoring and denouncing human rights violations on the global level.
The vote will take place in early October, during the meeting of the General Assembly in New York. Brazil is competing with Cuba and Guatemala for one of the two seats available for three candidacies from the bloc known as GRULAC (Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries). The term will be for three years, renewable for another three.
Watch the statements by Conectas (01:06:54):
Watch the response from Brazil (02:34:52):
