Gangs Have Brought Brazil to Its Knees. Kidnap for TV Air Time Proves It
Written by Carlos Chagas -- Tuesday, 15 August 2006
brazzil.com
Not only São Paulo, but the whole country breathed a sigh of relief upon knowing that Guilherme Portanova, the Globo TV Network journalist kidnapped Saturday, had been released. The TV network could not have acted differently: 24 hours before it had met the criminals' demand: airing a video in defense of privileges for the organized crime bosses who are in jail. In the video, there are demands to put an end to the Differentiated Discipline Regime, which limits the rights of the most dangerous criminals in jail.
Besides the tough time and the flagrant humiliation they inflicted on Globo, the outlaws were victorious in their aim of terrorizing society. If the attempt to force a TV station to broadcast what was not in their schedule worked out who can ensure that the next PCC attack won't be against a banker, forcing him to dispense a few millions in a favela (shantytown)? Or against a corrupt politician compelling him to confess that he stole money from the government?
These things tear down the order of a state and brings it to its knees. Something similar happened in 1969. At that time, the kidnapper of the American ambassador Burke Elbrick, coerced the Military Junta that had usurped the power to free political prisoners, hand out food to the poor Rio communities and forced Globo to broadcast a manifesto repudiating the dictatorship. The result was stepped up repression against terrorists and the common citizen, but - and we must condemn vehemently the excesses - the trend didn't catch on.
Now things seem different. The public power's and the state and federal authorities' helplessness turned São Paulo into a battlefield where organized crime is the winner in every bout. Hopefully the PCC won't turn into a political party that after kidnapping a few congressional leaders force Congress to legalize drug traffic...
Miracles
The Lower House has been empty of deputies but full of rumors. One of them has it that inspired by House Speaker, Aldo Rebello and Magistrate Ciro Nogueira, Congress may start proceedings against the 69 congressmen involved in the Ambulances Scandal (the Leeches Case) before the October 1st elections.
If it's accepted the argument that there is already enough evidence against those implicated in the kickback scheme and if the deadlines for the defense are shortened, there might be mass ousters before the end of the year. Especially if the 69 are forbidden to vote for their companions' acquittal.
But only a miracle would make this equation a reality. For a demoralized, lame-duck Congress, however, that would be an apotheotic finale. As dreaming hasn't yet been banned, after smoking became a sacrilege, who knows?
Gangs?
The political parties PL, PTB and PP all surpassed double digits, in the number of congressmen involved in the leeches scandal. The PL with 18 deputies, the PTB with 16 and the PP with 13. Coincidentally they also were the three that most contributed to the mensaleiros (deputies who received monthly kickbacks to vote with the government).
Also, just coincidentally, these are the three parties who didn't say a word about punishing their own leeches. Leaders of the PL, PTB and PP say that we should wait the trial of each case, because, as they put it, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
According to the law, their argument is correct, but the leeches question is one that's much more political than juridical. It involves the image of these parties, because the barrier clause is about to be adopted. This clause forbids the existence of parties that have not received at least 5% of the national vote in a minimum of nine states.
Recent polls revealed a few surprises: 73% of the voters said they decided to not vote for any leech that tries to be reelected. The national leadership of the PL, PTB and PP still have a chance to follow the example of other parties and start revoking the membership and expelling the leeches from their middle. Who knows?
Slips
Brazilian capital Brasília is still breathing the exhaust from president Lula's interview with Globo TV's Jornal Nacional. Discounted the eagerness for shining shown by the interviewers, we were left with the impression that, despite some slips, the president had a good performance. Let him who never had slips of tongue cast the first stone. The same goes for who ever tried to justify omissions distorting a little facts from the past.
It is not so important thus to know that it was not Lula who ousted chief of staff, José Dirceu, and Finance Minister, Antônio Palocci, because both resigned before they could get the boot. The same way, it was the inflation that fell, not the salaries, although the salaries grew almost nothing - this is the reality the interviewers should have explored and did not. The president interview's result is that whoever was going to vote for him will still do this. And those who did not intend to vote for him, will still not vote.
What became evident, in the government's high echelons, is that Lula will not participate in the debates with the other candidates. He cannot expose himself, as prime target, to the competitors' aggressions, since they will certainly have much more pointed questions than the journalists.
Carlos Chagas writes for the Rio’s daily Tribuna da Imprensa and is a representative of the Brazilian Press Association, in Brasília.
He welcomes your comments at carloschagas@hotmail.com
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