Bolsonaro is laying the foundations of a new dictatorship

[Judi Lynn]

A new law giving security forces immunity from prosecution does not bode well for Brazil's democracy.

Raphael Tsavkko Garcia by Raphael Tsavkko Garcia
2 hours ago



Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro attends a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil December 10, 2019 [Adriano Machado/Reuters]

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who was elected last year on a ticket to reduce crime, end corruption and strengthen the economy through conservative policies, has long been accused of posing a serious threat to human rights and rule of law in the country.

Indeed, since taking office in January this year, the former army officer repeatedly pursued anti-democratic policies, expressed dictatorial desires and attempted to stifle dissent through intimidation. His government incited its supporters to pressure the judiciary to issue verdicts in accordance with its wishes and attempted to silence media organisations and universities critical of its policies.

The president also waged a war on environmentalists under the pretext of development and put Brazil's indigenous communities at risk by threatening their livelihoods and condoning the attacks against them. Late last month, a group of Brazilian lawyers and former ministers requested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate Bolsonaro, claiming he incites his followers to commit genocide against indigenous people.

Bolsonaro's most significant attack on the rule of law and human rights in Brazil, however, came on November 21 in the form of a bill aimed at expanding protections for soldiers and police officers who kill while on Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO) missions.

More:
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/bolsonaro-laying-foundations-dictatorship-191209153455904.html

[peacebuzzard]

1. There is an active Brazilian AF operation to "remove" certain indigenous

Tribes from their previously protected areas. Bolsonaro is hell-bent on total destruction of the remnants of the Amazon; this Brazilian president is poison on the planet. Just another idiot in charge. So inhumane how deeply affected are the powerless and voiceless of this troubled nation.

[sandensea]

2. +1

Brazil's solution to their very severe and longstanding urban slum problem has basically been, since the 1970s, the relocation of slum-dwellers to the Amazon.

They're largely illiterate and not particularly patient (lots of domestic violence), so predictably enough, they quickly take to slash-and-burn agriculture and ranching.

And since the soil in the Amazon is mostly so poor, they have no choice but to keep moving after a few planting seasons.

Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff tried to curb the trend - but with only modest results.

Now that the hard right in back in power, it's full speed ahead - the world be damned.

[peacebuzzard]

3. You have touched on all issues transforming this once regal nation

With the lack of education, the population is turning to the streets for subsistence living.
And those politicians with a sense of solution are disenfranchised. The hard right needs all the clueless to continue as is,, the low social rung be damned as well.

[sandensea]

4. Thank you - you did as well.

I can't claim to know Brazil in depth, since like most tourists I've merely visited Rio, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, and few other tourist areas.

But even a casual visit is enough to see the colossal potential that country has, if they could just take care of their governance and corruption issues.

And if they never find their way around those problems (and admittedly they're not at all simple), at the very least the global community has a right to demand they respect the Amazon - lungs of the world as they are.