A document released to the public last week has generated international interest, particularly in Brazil. It is the Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Colby to Secretary of State Kissinger, from Washington, April 11, 1974.
The subject line explains the interest: Decision by Brazilian President Ernesto Geisel To Continue the Summary Execution of Dangerous Subversives Under Certain Conditions (Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State)
From The Guardian:
The revelation sparked an immediate outcry in Brazil where Geisel, who died in 1996, is remembered as one of the more benign leaders of Brazil’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship, who oversaw a gradual relaxation after a brutal five-year period known as the anos de chumbo or years of lead.
No criticism is being directed toward the CIA because of the memo; it was released according to the established U.S. procedure, redacted as necessary for classification but detailing information that the CIA had received regarding Brazilian activities of the time. The CIA agents were acting as reporters of information, not provocateurs.
There is outrage in Brazil, however, because the memo places responsibility for the murders directly at Geisel’s feet. The Foreign Ministry has stated it will request access from the Trump administration to all documents related to the Geisel report. (Rio Times)
All of this is taking place under the shadow of an upcoming election. The current party in control is a far left group, the Worker’s Party, whose leader was recently jailed after exposure of corruption. Worse for the people, Rio de Janeiro is being patrolled and controlled by the military. (Rio Times)
But while one might think exerting governmental force against the citizenry would have negative effects during a time of turmoil associated with murdering dissidents, the main opposition party leader, Presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party (a European-style strong-government nationalist party) responded to the murder of more than a hundred people with a dismissive statement:
“Who’s never given their kid a spank on the rear and then regretted it? These things happen.” (translated from Estado de Sao Paulo)
