Brazil commission says abusers could be tried

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil commission says abusers could be tried

The Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 2:26 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 2:26 p.m.

A Truth Commission investigating human rights abuses under the nation's military dictatorship says that those it finds guilty of torture could be brought to trial.

A 1979 amnesty law protects civilians and military personnel from liability for politically motivated crimes committed during the 1964-1985 military regime. But commission's coordinator Rosa Cardoso says they could be tried by the Costa Rica-based Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

She notes that "there are no statutes of limitations for crimes committed against humanity." And adds, "Amnesties are not valid under international law."

Unlike Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, Brazil has never punished military officials accused of human rights abuses.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130521/API/1305210892

(Short article, no more at link.)

[ocpagu]

1. Self-imposed amnesties clearly are not valid.

But Brazil's Supreme Court will never, ever, contradict the system they serve. A deep reform of the Brazilian legal system and structures is badly needed. The judiciary is the least democratic and the most elitist of all powers in Brazil - and great part of Latin America, and it's completely apart from the population. They twist the laws as they can to make the Constitution appears to say what they want it to say. The political acting of several of the justices is depressing.

I hope Cardoso succeeds in helding them responsible - though the Inter-American Court of Human Rights seems to be getting more and more biased due to political influence in their statements.

I also think that not only the military and the police should be investigated and convicted if found guilty. It was military-civil regime. Corporations - domestic and foreign -, businessmen, political leaders, media companies and journalists that had a role in funding, as well as the Church, should be examined.

Thanks for the info!