The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has been critical of savage capitalism and social injustices. However, Brazil and China are now questioned for businesses similar to modern car factory slavery.
Authorities report that 163 Chinese citizens were brought to Brazil irregularly, exploited and working in degrading conditions up to 7 days a week. Despite this, Lula and the Sao Paulo Forum hide behind the bushes and remain silent.
The Chinese car firm BYD reported that it had cut ties with the company that hired the workers and stressed that they are collaborating with the authorities. BYD reported that in 2025 it hopes to produce 150 thousand electric vehicles in Brazil.
It’s not the first time. Lula has been famous for his long support, financing and defense of the modern slavery of Cuban doctors. The doctors work under the orders of the Cuban Communist Party, they travel without contracts, under surveillance and with strict regulations.
The modern slavery of Cuban doctors. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights It has collected complaints about 64-hour work weeks, sexual harassment against female doctors, and sentences of 3 to 8 years in prison for desertion from voluntary missions.
Double standards. Lula criticizes Israel’s fight against terrorism, but opposes condemning Iran’s crimes. She believes that “constructive dialogue” should be encouraged with terrorists who persecute women.
The President of Brazil has compared the conflict in Gaza to Hitler’s genocide. A harsh, shameful and totally irresponsible attack against Israel. Now he praises Iran for receiving Afghan refugees on its territory.
On the side of evil. Lula calls for a repeat election in Venezuela, calls Israel genocidal, defends Hamas, attacks Elon Musk and fixes Putin’s brutality against Ukraine. All reprehensible acts, especially coming from the largest democracy in Latin America.
Hamas defender. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the annihilation of Ismail Haniyeh, one of the most wanted terrorists worldwide. “Brazil strongly condemns the assassination of the Head of the Hamas Political Office, Ismail Haniyeh,” claimed the Brazilian government.
President Lula has been declared persona non grata in Israel, after comparing the self-defense efforts of the Jewish people with the Holocaust caused by Hitler. If a child dies in Palestine it is a heinous crime, but if it is in Israel it is as if nothing happened.
Lula is also an admirer and defender of Vladimir Putin. Brazil’s leader has asked Ukraine to surrender its sovereignty and give its homeland to the Russian aggressor. He has never raised his voice for Ukrainian children and the lethality of Putin’s attacks against civilians.
Good capitalism. The shameless silence of Lula, the Sao Paulo Forum and the Workers’ Party in the face of complaints of acts similar to modern slavery in China is shameful, dangerous and complicit.
A big country with a small president. Lula has proven to be too small in the face of Brazil’s great commitments in the international community. The last episode shows that he is capable of anything, including ignoring the just universal demands of the workers and the poor of the world, whom he claims to defend so much. Now be silent.
*The author is an exiled journalist, former ambassador to the OAS and former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps (FK). He is an alumnus of the National Defense University Security and Defense seminar and the Harvard and HarvardX Leadership course.
