LatinNews Daily - 05 August 2020 |
BRAZIL: Gov’t asked to explain internal intelligence gathering |
On 4 August, a magistrate in Brazil’s supreme court (STF), Cármen Lúcia Antunes Rocha, gave the justice ministry 48 hours to explain the supposed existence of a file containing information on public security officials who are politically opposed to the government. Analysis: The existence of such a file was revealed in a report by news site UOL, published on 24 July. According to UOL’s report, the Secretaria de Operações Integradas (Seopi) in the federal justice & public security ministry has compiled information on almost 600 officials in the federal and state police forces who are identified as members of the anti-fascist movement (which opposes President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters’ anti-democratic demands). Justice Minister André Mendonça has for the moment evaded giving clarifications about the Seopi’s work and this alleged file, prompting the STF to intervene amid concerns that the information gathered could be used for political persecution.
Looking Ahead: Mendonça cancelled an appearance before congress planned for yesterday, but is now due to appear remotely before the joint congressional committee of control over the intelligence services’ activities on 7 August, to give explanations on this file and the Seopi’s work. |