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| As Brazil marks 50th anniversary of the coup, more people open up about the dictatorship | As Brazil marks 50th anniversary of the coup, more people open up about the dictatorship |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| RIO DE JANEIRO — Under a 1979 amnesty law, no one has ever been tried for the human rights abuses committed during Brazil’s dictatorship. Although some victims have spoken about the horrors of that dark chapter, it seemed many Brazilians preferred to forget. | RIO DE JANEIRO — Under a 1979 amnesty law, no one has ever been tried for the human rights abuses committed during Brazil’s dictatorship. Although some victims have spoken about the horrors of that dark chapter, it seemed many Brazilians preferred to forget. |
| But as the country marks the 50th anniversary this week of the coup that brought the military to power, the dictatorship is at the center of a national debate about what happened and what it means today. | But as the country marks the 50th anniversary this week of the coup that brought the military to power, the dictatorship is at the center of a national debate about what happened and what it means today. |
| “People are reflecting on the past and teaching a new generation of Brazilians about the dictatorship,” said James N. Green, a professor of Brazilian history and culture at Brown University. | “People are reflecting on the past and teaching a new generation of Brazilians about the dictatorship,” said James N. Green, a professor of Brazilian history and culture at Brown University. |
| No official commemorations are planned, but unlike in previous years, film screenings, lectures and discussions have been organized around the anniversary in big cities. In São Paulo, demonstrators planned to gather Monday outside the old headquarters of the internal defense operations center, where many people were interrogated and tortured. | No official commemorations are planned, but unlike in previous years, film screenings, lectures and discussions have been organized around the anniversary in big cities. In São Paulo, demonstrators planned to gather Monday outside the old headquarters of the internal defense operations center, where many people were interrogated and tortured. |
| The country’s truth commission is also increasingly generating interest as former officials defend their actions nearly three decades after the dictatorship ended. In testimony this month, former colonel Paulo Malhães admitted to torturing and killing guerrilla group members and mutilating their bodies. He noted that the tactics successfully quashed armed resistance. | The country’s truth commission is also increasingly generating interest as former officials defend their actions nearly three decades after the dictatorship ended. In testimony this month, former colonel Paulo Malhães admitted to torturing and killing guerrilla group members and mutilating their bodies. He noted that the tactics successfully quashed armed resistance. |
| “When you cut of the head of a snake, you finish off the snake,” he told the commission. | “When you cut of the head of a snake, you finish off the snake,” he told the commission. |
| Some victims say there are echoes of the dictatorship still today — in the heavy police response to protests that swept Brazilian cities in 2013, in police violence in Rio’s slums and in a military operation to pacify Maré, one of the city’s most dangerous areas, which began Sunday. | Some victims say there are echoes of the dictatorship still today — in the heavy police response to protests that swept Brazilian cities in 2013, in police violence in Rio’s slums and in a military operation to pacify Maré, one of the city’s most dangerous areas, which began Sunday. |
| Although police shootings are common in the slums, or favelas, officers are rarely punished. According to Amnesty International, Brazilian police are responsible for about 2,000 deaths a year. | Although police shootings are common in the slums, or favelas, officers are rarely punished. According to Amnesty International, Brazilian police are responsible for about 2,000 deaths a year. |
| “Twenty-one years of a mentality like this made the country go backwards,” said Cid Benjamin, a former militant whose memoir, “Thanks to Life, Memories of a Militant,” was published in October. “Brazil does not want to go back to the dictatorship, in any way.” | “Twenty-one years of a mentality like this made the country go backwards,” said Cid Benjamin, a former militant whose memoir, “Thanks to Life, Memories of a Militant,” was published in October. “Brazil does not want to go back to the dictatorship, in any way.” |
| Benjamin, a member of a left-wing guerrilla group, was arrested in 1970 after participating in bank robberies, armed actions and the kidnapping of the U.S. ambassador, Charles Burke Elbrick. While jailed, Benjamin said he was beaten and tortured, tied naked around a pole “like a roast chicken.” | Benjamin, a member of a left-wing guerrilla group, was arrested in 1970 after participating in bank robberies, armed actions and the kidnapping of the U.S. ambassador, Charles Burke Elbrick. While jailed, Benjamin said he was beaten and tortured, tied naked around a pole “like a roast chicken.” |
| The armed resistance to the dictatorship did not succeed in mobilizing popular support. “It was a political error, although it was a legitimate action,” said Benjamin, adding that he did not feel any anger toward his torturers. “I don’t hold onto rancor and resentment.” | The armed resistance to the dictatorship did not succeed in mobilizing popular support. “It was a political error, although it was a legitimate action,” said Benjamin, adding that he did not feel any anger toward his torturers. “I don’t hold onto rancor and resentment.” |
| ‘A long night of darkness’ | ‘A long night of darkness’ |
| In the year before the coup, left-wing President João “Jango” Goulart embarked on a program of social reform. A speech he gave in Rio on March 13, 1964, promising dramatic changes sparked fears of a communist takeover. | In the year before the coup, left-wing President João “Jango” Goulart embarked on a program of social reform. A speech he gave in Rio on March 13, 1964, promising dramatic changes sparked fears of a communist takeover. |
| On March 19, hundreds of thousands in São Paulo joined the anti-reform Family March With God for Liberty, which led right-wing military elements to believe they could depose Goulart without sparking a civil war. | On March 19, hundreds of thousands in São Paulo joined the anti-reform Family March With God for Liberty, which led right-wing military elements to believe they could depose Goulart without sparking a civil war. |
| They were proved right. | They were proved right. |
| About 300 to 400 government opponents were killed and thousands were tortured during the 21-year dictatorship. | About 300 to 400 government opponents were killed and thousands were tortured during the 21-year dictatorship. |
| And although far more people died during the dictatorships in Argentina or Chile, the period is still seen here as a traumatic time in national history. | And although far more people died during the dictatorships in Argentina or Chile, the period is still seen here as a traumatic time in national history. |
| “Democracy was violated in a way that left an enormous scar on Brazilian citizenship,” said Quitéria Teixeira, 34, an unemployed single mother in the city of Teresópolis. | “Democracy was violated in a way that left an enormous scar on Brazilian citizenship,” said Quitéria Teixeira, 34, an unemployed single mother in the city of Teresópolis. |
| Brazil is facing increasing pressure to revise its amnesty law so that perpetrators can be held accountable. | Brazil is facing increasing pressure to revise its amnesty law so that perpetrators can be held accountable. |
| “The only way to close this chapter is to do justice for people who suffered the consequences of the dictatorship,” said Atila Roque, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil, which is launching a campaign to change the law. | “The only way to close this chapter is to do justice for people who suffered the consequences of the dictatorship,” said Atila Roque, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil, which is launching a campaign to change the law. |
| Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, a former member of a left-wing guerrilla group, was among those imprisoned and tortured. She has never spoken publicly in detail about her experience. | Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, a former member of a left-wing guerrilla group, was among those imprisoned and tortured. She has never spoken publicly in detail about her experience. |
| This past week, a Facebook page run in her name by her party, the Workers Party, changed her profile photo to an iconic, dictatorship-era image of her. “On March 31, 1964, Brazil fell into a long night of darkness,” the text on the Facebook page reads. A presidential spokesman said opinions on the page cannot be taken as hers. But some media have seen the change as an acknowledgment of the anniversary. | This past week, a Facebook page run in her name by her party, the Workers Party, changed her profile photo to an iconic, dictatorship-era image of her. “On March 31, 1964, Brazil fell into a long night of darkness,” the text on the Facebook page reads. A presidential spokesman said opinions on the page cannot be taken as hers. But some media have seen the change as an acknowledgment of the anniversary. |
| Recent police violence | Recent police violence |
| Demands are also growing louder for the demilitarization of Brazil’s street police force, which is called the military police and run like a military unit. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recently began a special hearing in Washington on human rights and social protest in Brazil, with evidence presented of police violence during 2013 demonstrations. | Demands are also growing louder for the demilitarization of Brazil’s street police force, which is called the military police and run like a military unit. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recently began a special hearing in Washington on human rights and social protest in Brazil, with evidence presented of police violence during 2013 demonstrations. |
| The death this month of a woman who was shot during a police action in a Rio favela led to a public outcry. Claudia Ferreira, 38, was put in the back of a police vehicle. A video that went viral shows her falling out and being dragged along the highway on the way to a hospital. The mother of four was pronounced dead on arrival. Three officers were suspended. | The death this month of a woman who was shot during a police action in a Rio favela led to a public outcry. Claudia Ferreira, 38, was put in the back of a police vehicle. A video that went viral shows her falling out and being dragged along the highway on the way to a hospital. The mother of four was pronounced dead on arrival. Three officers were suspended. |
| Critics say the incident is another example of police impunity. | Critics say the incident is another example of police impunity. |
| “We have the requirements of the dictatorship until today,” said Marcos Arruda, 73, a former militant who was arrested in 1970, tortured, then released in 1971. | “We have the requirements of the dictatorship until today,” said Marcos Arruda, 73, a former militant who was arrested in 1970, tortured, then released in 1971. |
| Meanwhile, Brown University and the State University of Maringá in Brazil have begun releasing thousands of State Department and declassified CIA documents that show the extent of U.S. logistical and political support for the coup. | |
| On a recent day, Alina Assis, 29, a student in Rio, purchased a magazine with a cover story about the U.S. involvement. “It is not a surprise that the U.S.A. supported it,” she said. “But it is a surprise that it is in a Brazilian magazine.” | On a recent day, Alina Assis, 29, a student in Rio, purchased a magazine with a cover story about the U.S. involvement. “It is not a surprise that the U.S.A. supported it,” she said. “But it is a surprise that it is in a Brazilian magazine.” |