The executive director of Amnesty International in Brazil, doctor Jurema Werneck, considers the police operation “disastrous” Containment in the Alemão and Penha complexes, this Tuesday (28) in the north of Rio de Janeiro. The most recent official balance indicates that the action resulted in the deaths of 119 people.
Jurema Werneck says there is misinformation about the success of the operation. “Public security authorities say it was a planned operation. [Mas] an operation with so many deaths?”, he asked during an interview with the television news program Reporter Brazilfrom the TV Brasil.
Director points out that the police officers yesterday in Penha and Alemão had no “control of the environment” and did not fulfill their “duty to protect life and property.”
“It must be said that this operation is not a success. It is disastrous. Anyone knows that murder and success are not in the same sentence. Murder of hundreds of people. We have received news of thousands of traumatized people who are suffering.”
Thus, Werneck considers that the operation was a “resounding failure” for the State and society. “Not just for the governor [Cláudio Castro] and to his security advisors. Failure is for all of us, unfortunately.”
The speech by the director of Amnesty International contrasts with Governor Castro’s assessment. According to him, the operation was positive. “Yesterday we showed a severe blow to crime and that we are capable of winning battles”, he said in the morning at a press conference.
For Jurema Werneck, the speech by the governor of Rio de Janeiro “encourages all actions outside the law”, and both he and the state public security team know that the operation was illegal. “A disrespect for international law, human rights, the Constitution and all Brazilian legislation.”
Amnesty International, together with other civil entities and institutions, is collecting reports about the operation. According to Werneck, what has been reported reveals “debacle”. She hopes that “the governor will present evidence of the correctness of the operation, of the supposed planning of the action.”
Amnesty International promises to provide assistance to people affected by the operation and act to ensure judicial redress and accountability of the authorities. “We just hope that Brazilian institutions do their duty. The whole world is watching.”
