Brazil - Brazzil Mag - Reporters Without Frontier Calls Brazil's Ruling Party Resolution Undemocratic

Folha de S, Paulo, one of the newspapers in the PT's sight

Paris-based international censorship opposer and press freedom defender organization Reporters Without Frontier (RSF) has called a recent resolution by Brazil's ruling party PT (Workers Party) against the Brazilian press "ominous" and "unworthy of a democratic party."

The PT's recommendation came after fresh criticism against the Lula administration in the press following the Airbus crash, Brazil's deadliest air accident ever, which left 199 people dead.

Robert Ménard, the RSF's secretary-general has sent a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and to Ricardo Berzoini, the Workers Party president protesting the party's offensive. Here's the document in its entirety:

Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the consequences of a resolution passed by the Workers Party (PT) national executive on July 31, 2007, encouraging party officials and supporters to oppose "the major offensive by the right and their media allies against the party and government".

Gleber Naine, the party's communication chief, mentioned TV Globo and daily newspapers Correio Braziliense, O Estado de S. Paulo, O Globo and Folha de S. Paulo as "playing the opposition's game as never before."

The resolution seems to us ill-conceived and untimely. The privately-owned media criticized President Lula and his government when he came to power but relations have since improved. The media outlets mentioned have also criticized opposition politicians for corruption, abuse of power and fraud.

Just before the October 2006 general elections, reports of PT members trying to buy forged documents to smear opposition candidates led to reprisals against the media by party activists. Other parties have also been involved in abusing and physically attacking the media. Partisanship cannot be an excuse for such behavior.

The PT executive's resolution follows wide media coverage of protests after the July 17 plane crash at São Paulo's Congonhas airport and of the crowd's jeering of President Lula when he opened the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro a few days before the crash.

Is this the same as systematic criticism of the authorities? Should the media have not reported these events? Can it be blamed for the public discontent and anger caused by the crash?

Reporters Without Borders appeals for calm and hopes your wisdom will prevail. The party resolution is ominous, unworthy of a democratic party and can only make things worse. It should be dropped.

Duh...
written by Brazilian Dude, 2007-08-04 05:53:11

"The party resolution is ominous, unworthy of a democratic party "...
Duh-uh, REALLY???!!!
Maybe that's because PT is NOT a democratic party, and never was.To them, democracy is a means, not an end. They used it to get to power, but their only goal was POWER. They are Trotskist and Leninist, with one of the factions actually adopting Stalinist views.Their ideal government involves soviet-style rule, complete with gulags and all the other trappings of a totalitarian régime.Check the history of the guys in power now - they were the activists who fought the military dictatorship so as to establish a "dictatorship of the proletariat"(thier words, not mine), where all critical thought was to be punished as burgeois counterrevolutionary sedition by reeducation camps, or, failing that, execution.They NEVER fought for democracy - they fought the black hats so they could become the dominant black hats.They wanted - and still want -THEIR dictatorship.
Controling the press is an important step for that (Chavez redux, anyone?)

Me primitive!
written by Brazilian Dude, 2007-08-04 06:01:31

And if anyone happens to think I'm being unfair, sorry kids, I lived through it. Okay, so I'm a cold war dinosaur who happens to think( based on what I LIVED - not heard, or read) that as bad as right-wing capitalist governments are(and they DO suck - Bush, anyone?), well continuing, as bad as they are, they are truly penny-ante when compared to communist totalitarian governments, which repressed and killed by the millions (remember Stalin's two favorite mottos: "the death of a man is a tragedy; the death of a million, a statistic" and "death solves all problems: no man, no problems"). Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao... the list goes on.
So, until somebody finds something really better that actually works, I'll stick to capitalism. Those who disagree, feel free to move to Cuba, Venezuela or North Korea.

More blind are those who don't want to see.
written by lucas R., 2007-08-04 14:02:15

"
The election of a metal worker, mainly by the poor, for the presidency of one of the largest countries on earth has put in check many heavy private and government interests around the globe and it is still far from being accepted.
The opposition starts with fellow rich Brazilian who spent the last five or six decades (or even more) depositing their money in the American and Swiss banks "defending" it from being devaluated inside the borders of Brazil.
Now these same Brazilians don't want to believe the reality when they see the graphs on newspapers showing that those deposits abroad have already devaluated around 50% mainly because of the economical policy of the "incompetent" PT government of Brazil, which has finally started to privilege the rescue of the poor Brazilians from their stone-age level, instead of defending the centenary privileges (mordomias) of the rich.
Sooner or later people will realize that opposition in Brazil is again being unfair and all they want is to bring the government down by force since they weren't able to do it in the ballot box.
Of course they have to do their opposition to the government, no doubt about it. It's their job. But by making opposition to the deep desire of the Brazilian people to make their lives a little less primitive is a terrible mistake and a bizarre nonsense that will be shown to be a shot in their own foot. Hopefully.
"
Dudes, That is it ! (see: http://www.brazzil.com/content/view/9945/1/)

Like people say on the streets: More blind are those who don't want to see.

This reactionary oposition in Brazil has allways been priviledged in the past by former governments, when only them could make money in Brazil: The poor had to see their salaries devaluated in 30% in a month (!) because of the inflation that the Workers Party on power banned from the country, while the rich and powerfull invested their money overnight. What they did with the profit? Instead of investing in their own country (at the time backed by "their" own government in power therefore the investiments had to be safe) what they did was to export those assets to the safer economies like Switzerland, USA, not to mention those "fiscal paradieses" like Jersey Ilands that still holds fortunes stollen from the brazilian people by corrupt politicians and bussiness men.

These people who are screaming now are the people who international comunities must watch of carefully. All they want is to perpetuate their "mordomias" as the author sugests in order to become even reacher, at the expenses of the poor and laborious brazilians that up to date still work as slaves in their proprieties.

The use by the oposition of a tragedy of such proportions like the aeronautical accidents in Brazil is what is ominous.

International agencies like this one should take their asses off their confortable offices in "normal" cities Paris and spend a year or two in this country studing the complex relation between people, government, parliament and the coprrupt bussiness segment accostumed for centuries to suck the blood and exploit the felow brazilians. Then they will learn a bit more about the real people who make the good and the bad things in this country.

Lula is a wolf dressed in a sheep's clothing.
written by Shelly, 2007-08-04 14:44:24

Lula gives the poor cachaca (bolsa familia) to keep them in the continuous cycle of dependency instead of giving education and the necessary tools in order to be less dependent on "esmola" from the gov. Anyway, the rich made sooo much money and maybe they are angered that they are getting a few slaps from the current administration. Brazil has never been a democracy, we are obligated to vote and if we don't we pay penalties, can face jail time, etc. Freedom of speech??? No, thanks. The media are together on this situation and we don't have a decent newspaper or organization that we can say: they are the voice of the public and represent our values. If anyone attempts to criticize egocentric LULA, he will haunt you down and make your life a misery. To me all this bickering has to do with who will siege power and who will get more for less. It has always been this way and unless the public and we the brasileiros do something about it, nothing will change. It is my belief that a civil war will have to take place in order to set the record straight, we'll see more air traffic accidents, more violence, more corruption. The government and Rede Globo keeps feeding the ignorant masses with their novelas and from 6:00pm until 9/10 all you'll see is novela. Talk about a brainwashed nation, we are just that. Feed us the famous bunda, carnival, football and novela and you have a recipe on how to brainwash a nation.

I WILL BRING THE BEANS BULLETS & BOMBS
written by forrest Brown, 2007-08-04 15:17:07

Shelly
you want to lead , fallow or just get out of the way .
brasil does need a kink jerked in its ass as does the goverment of the US
they all have gotten to the we be the kings they be the workers .
keep them down , stupid and dependent on us and they will alaways be our slaves

Forrest
written by João da Silva, 2007-08-04 18:23:49

Shelly
you want to lead , fallow or just get out of the way .

You sound ominous.Must be your training in the Marine Corps.A good order,though.

Laugh...laugh....laugh..... !!!!!!!
written by ch.c., 2007-08-04 18:34:51

Allo allo allo.....where is Carlos the Idiot ?
How could he tolerate such bashing.....once more ?

- smilies/wink.gif

)))))

...
written by João da Silva, 2007-08-04 19:10:05

Allo allo allo.....where is Carlos the Idiot ?

May be, he is taking a vacation paid by the government smilies/grin.gif

HAHAHAHAH
written by Shelly, 2007-08-04 23:12:25

Forrest, that was good, how about we go and sort this s**t out? smilies/wink.gif

Shelly
written by João da Silva, 2007-08-05 00:02:39

The government and Rede Globo keeps feeding the ignorant masses with their novelas and from 6:00pm until 9/10 all you'll see is novela. Talk about a brainwashed nation, we are just that. Feed us the famous bunda, carnival, football and novela and you have a recipe on how to brainwash a nation.

This is what lots of Brazilians in this blog have been saying and we are classified as unpatriotic citizens. Today, there was a protest organized by Orkut called "Cansei". Globo didnt show anything,but I did see on Record . Of course the number of people present was very small,but at least,they did protest. I dont believe in violent protests,but in civil disobeience movement. For xample, OAB has called for protest against CPMF and I support this. Why should we pay CPMF, when the banks charge exorbitant fees to maintain our accounts,give credit cards and the government charging us almost 45% of our income on everything (ICM,IPI,CPMF,IOF,etc)?

Joao da Silva
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 01:26:11

Joao,

I don't think we should be considered unpatriotic. Being unpatriotic is to see my country in ruins and do nothing about. I don't agree with violence either, but in the case of Brazil, of my country, I don't see an alternative. My father owns a company in Brazil and you cannot even imagine the amount of taxes he pays, and for what? We were never sent to public schools or used national health care, but had to pay for everything TWICE. The protests when the little boy was killed in Rio not long ago, what did it achieve? I am sorry, but I am for a rebellion against the government that takes 45% of
tax. and destroys the country. Let's see what the American or any industrialized country would do if they had to put up with half of the crap in Brazil. I am afraid we are not at the protest level, maybe in 2 generations, but right now something needs to be done. The only time we seem to get half a dozen idiots to rebel is when America visits Brazil, did you see the "show"? I though it was pathetic, we don't see half of that done when someone gets murdered in Rio. Record has always been a little better and Globo continues to be the brainwashing newscast.
I heard of Cansei, and I cansei too! Cansei de ir ao Rio e ver o meu estado em situacao precaria! Cansei de ver o meu pai pagar tanto imposto pra nada, cansei de ver o numero de mortos no Brasil, cansei do desemprego, casei da desmatacao da floresta amazonica... Do you know what this does? Absolutely nothing, tomorrow everything will continue to be the same, why do you think Brasilia is the capital of our beloved country??? Let me tell you a story. My uncle used to work for Jarbas Passarinho, do you remember him? Jarbas used to say to my uncle " out of sight out of mind" and most of the senators had the same sort of behavior. In the end, he resigned and opened a small computer company in Brasilia( he continues to live there). Brasilia has the worst youth violence, mostly are sons of deputies/senators/sons of rich people and guess what they like to do on a Friday night? They go outside the bars or nightclubs looking for people to beat or kill for a laugh. My brother- in- law was a victim of an assault 2 weeks ago in Brasilia. He was visiting from Rio and went out with my cousin (family reunion after 15 years) and his wife to a nightclub and was beaten by 7 guys with a steal bar. Not only that, but they tried to run him over using their Ford pick-up truck. Correio Brasiliense did a huge work on this case, guess what happened to the perpetrators NOTHING because their parents own a large corporation. Therefore, I can say that being a family member of someone who has seen the rich get away with almost murder, that only a rebellion will solve things. I have lost all hope in my country. I am sick and tired of seeing bad news coming from Brazil, we have a lot of potential, more than most countries in the world, however we always seem to miss the opportunity.

My mother is a teacher, has a PHD in English and Portuguese, do you happen to know how much she gets paid per month? Sorry Joao, but I think that we are always dreaming that some president will take the lead and help us get out of the crisis. President Kennedy has said, what I consider one of the most beautiful quotes, "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country" and I truly believe that we should all do our part. I am, in a sense (geographically it is impossible for me to do more), but whenever I can, I teach about the Amazon and the civil issues in my country. I give people the option to contact a NGO and help out, even if it is with a letter. I am a ocean and marine scientist, I wish I could go to the Amazon and help out with the environmental issues that we are facing there, but I fear for my life. My brother-in-law's father works for IBAMA and a co-worker had a Indian put a rifle to her head and was told her to leave, how do you think we can solve this?

correction
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 01:27:19

nothing about it. Do we have a preview button on this site?

Darn
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 01:31:32

He told her to leave. I should write on Word before posting here, this is really annoying...

...
written by lucas R., 2007-08-05 01:33:20

There are lots of mistakes going on in Brazil right now. The most recent is the belief that helping the chaos to install will make things goin better right away. That's what the radicals are trying to sell... and that so many interests are trying to watch. But it's a mere stupidity. Before going radical it is necessary to recall 10, 20, 30 years ago and compare it with today. And foolish will be the "novelas brainwashed" brazilians if they dont forget the fofocas of TV Globo soap operas and get focused on the real overall situation of the country.

Joao, In case you don't believe me...
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 01:35:05

VIOLÊNCIA
Casal agredido ao sair de boate

Um grupo de pelo menos sete jovens espancou analista de sistemas a socos e com uma barra de ferro na QI 9 do Lago Sul. Mulher levou tapa no rosto e chute na barriga

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcela Duarte
Da equipe do Correio
Carlos Vieira/CB

Homem de 32 anos diz não entender razão da agressão. Jovens teriam fugido em duas caminhonetes

As lembranças da madrugada de domingo em Brasília para Ângela*, 32 anos, moradora do Rio de Janeiro, são de horror e revolta. Ela, o marido e um primo foram agredidos por um grupo de pelo menos sete rapazes, na saída da boate Nix, localizada na QI 9, no Lago Sul. O marido de Ângela, Rafael*, 32 anos, analista de sistemas, foi atingido na cabeça com um bastão de ferro. Levou seis pontos na cabeça e dois próximos ao olho esquerdo. Agentes da 10ª Delegacia de Polícia (Lago Sul) procuram os agressores.

O casal Ângela e Rafael visitava Brasília pela primeira vez. Eles vieram para o aniversário de uma sobrinha. Com os primos Fábio*, 27 anos, e Marli*, 26 anos, moradores da Asa Norte, saíram para aproveitar o fim de semana. “A noite foi tranqüila. Ficamos em uma área reservada. Não aconteceu nada de diferente, não teve discussão, ou qualquer pessoa que mexesse com a gente”, sustentou Fábio. As agressões começaram quando os quatro estavam indo embora.

“Quando eu saí, levei um soco no rosto e caí. O meu primo me viu e foi me socorrer. Neste momento, os seguranças me ajudaram e me colocaram para dentro da boate para evitar que eu levasse mais golpes. Foi aí que pegaram o Rafael”, contou Fábio. Ângela, que estava do lado de fora com Marli, também foi agredida: levou um tapa no rosto e um chute na barriga e desmaiou. Rafael foi segurado e viu um rapaz pegar, em uma caminhonete L-200, um pedaço de ferro.

Testemunhas ligaram para a polícia. Segundo Rafael, ele conseguiu se soltar do grupo, e tentou se proteger entre uma árvore e um poste. Na delegacia, as vítimas prestaram depoimento e passaram informações sobre duas caminhonetes L-200, uma preta e outra branca, que o grupo teria usado para deixar o local. As vítimas passaram por exames no Instituto Médico Legal (IML). De acordo com o delegado titular da 10ª DP, Antônio Cavalheiro, com o laudo da perícia a ocorrência de lesão corporal poderá, eventualmente, ser caracterizada como tentativa de homicídio — devido à gravidade das lesões.

O gerente da Nix, André Castanharo, alegou desconhecer que os agressores tenham estado dentro da boate naquele noite ou que tenham algum vínculo com o estabelecimento. “Nada aconteceu de errado naquela noite dentro da boate. Vi a confusão quando já estava no fim, do lado de fora. Tentamos ajudar as pessoas feridas, mesmo tendo acontecido fora do estabelecimento”, disse.

Sem alvará
Segundo a Administração Regional do Lago Sul, a boate Nix não tem alvará para funcionar depois da meia-noite — e a autorização é para atuar apenas como restaurante. O delegado Antônio Cavalheiro disse que está preparando um dossiê para a administração. “Vamos pedir o cancelamento do alvará de boates que funcionam em quadras comerciais. Temos recebido muitas reclamações. Coisas graves estão acontecendo e podem acabar em morte”, ressaltou. Moradores reclamam da desordem provocada pelas boates. “Além do barulho, temos que nos preocupar com outros transtornos, como falta de estacionamento e a insegurança”, alega uma moradora da QL 17, que pede para não se identificar. Segundo o administrador do Lago Sul, Paulo Zuba, a fiscalização será intensificada.

Shelly
written by lucas R., 2007-08-05 01:41:40

(Lula gives the poor cachaca (bolsa familia) to keep them in the continuous cycle of dependency instead of giving education and the necessary tools in order to be less dependent on "esmola" from the gov.)

Let's be fair. The last PanAm Games shows the opposite of what you say. Not just for the medals. The periferia of Rio de Janeiro was totaly involved in this project. For months. And they are happy. Have you watched the games ?

Lucas
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 01:51:04

Yes, my father actually has an apartment in the pan buildings. How much do you think that project was? What about Nova iguacu, Sao Joao de Meriti? My father lives in Barra da Tijuca, you can see the sea from his balcony, do you think he rather see the money go into education or PAM Games. We did great, Thiago was fascinating to see, but what about the thousands of other Thiago out there? Let's be fair?? I am being fair, I rather see more done for the people than overpaying for a project. Where do you think the money came from?

"A polícia do Rio invadiu a sede da ONG Rede de Comunicação Contra a Violência, apreendeu 60 camisetas de protesto contra o Pan e prendeu as duas pessoas presentes no local no centro da cidade. Vendida a R$ 10, a roupa é parte das manifestações contra os atos violentos nas comunidades populares prévios ao Pan e os gastos excessivos do evento e contratações sem licitação. Depois de assinar um termo em que assumiam terem usado uma marca registrada (o mascote Cauê, mas na versão maligna e segurando um fuzil), os dois foram liberados."

http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/07/30/brazil-about-the-2007-rio-pan-american-games/

Lucas
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 01:54:31

We cannot succeed as a country until everyone has their basic human rights respected. Go the the UN website and read their universal declaration of human rights, we don't follow one line let alone the document.

but had to pay for everything TWICE .....
written by ch.c., 2007-08-05 02:10:01

....BUT to get paid TWICE or more, just become a government worker or a politician !

however we always seem to miss the opportunity !
written by ch.c., 2007-08-05 02:17:40

however...... we always miss the opportunity...is more appropriate !

ch.c
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 02:22:01

My father is too much of a honest person to be around this sort of people. We don't mix with the scum bags in Brasilia.

ch.c/Shelly
written by João da Silva, 2007-08-05 02:33:22

....BUT to get paid TWICE or more, just become a government worker or a politician !

Politicians are getting paid much better!.But you are too blunt to be one!!. So you better stay put in Switzerland.

As for you,Shelly, I understand about your Dad and his honesty. Honesty is a rare commodity in Brazil, these days. I think we have lost our moral values right from April 21st of 1985. Please do correct me if I am wrong.

Ch.c
written by Shelly, 2007-08-05 03:08:43

Ch.C.

I think you are referring to Tancredo Neves, am I right? I was 12 years old and remember seeing people out in the streets just crying. I also remember that my family thinks that he was poisoned (assassinated). He was fit up to that moment and all of a sudden he died, I too believe he was killed by someone in the Sarney campaign. When we have lost our moral values in Brazil? Well, I don't really know the answer to this, but I can say for sure that a small elite hold power and the wealth in our country. We have lost our values when we allow little girls to be prostitutes in the streets of Rio de Janeiro or any other state for that matter and allow politicians to go free, killing the dreams and destroying the future of our country.

My father is a good man. Every Saturday he goes to a favela in Rio-favela do ANil and helps out. He has being doing this for a very long time, more than 15 years every Saturday. On Wednesday's he helps out with the meetings, etc. When we were kids we used to go there and help too. He always said that the fact that we were better off than most people meant that we had a duty to do something.

Lucas...
written by Brazilian Dude, 2007-08-05 05:57:12

Is possibly a misled idealist. His belief that Bin Lula tamed inflation reeks of a typical adolescent UNE brainwashing mantra.Give the kid some time, maybe he will come to his senses.

Shelly
written by João da Silva, 2007-08-05 12:24:03

Joao, In case you don't believe me...

Shelly, thanks for posting this article. Not many people are aware of the situation in Brasilia.It too has gangs formed by kids from affluent families and political clans from all over the country. They are volent for the sake of fun and not to rob.Some years ago, a native Indian who was sleeping in a bus shelter was burnt alive. Some kids threw spirit on him and set fire.In aother incident, the son of a minister killed a couple of bicyclists in a hit and run accident.I am told that such violences ae on the rise and the mainstream media do not bring to the attention of the national audience.

I have gone to Brasilia several times (that was several years ago) and always found the city to be friendly .I am told that it is no longer so. I am sorry about what happened to your relatives and happy that they survived the ordeal . As for finding the culprits,forget about it.Probably the kids of some politicians.

Violence in Brasilia...
written by Brazilian Dude, 2007-08-05 12:42:53

Is NOT a recent phenomenon.It started in the 80's,with middle-class and above juvies who were "bored" and formed territory-based gangs (each "quadra" had one, the most infamously violent being from SQS 109). These guys would prowl around looking for other quadra's members to fight, wherever they might be; parties, movies, fast-food outlets... they actually went to parties carrying nunchuks, chains, knives...a real c**kwork Orange scenario.The "in" thing was to practice some martial art to improve your fighting skills so as to have more prestige with your gang.
Quite a few people ended up in hospitals or dead those days; however, we were still under a military rule until '84, and newsstories on those events were squashed.
The tradition of not reporting these events during the rest of that decade continued, especially as many of the involved in the felonies were the kids of important poeple. Being underage and therefore protected from several points of view also helped.
Brasilia has been extremely violent for DECADES now.The few incidents we see in the news are the tip of the iceberg.

Shelly
written by lucas R., 2007-08-05 15:34:07

"We cannot succeed as a country until everyone has their basic human rights respected."

Perfect!
How about aplying that UN declaration starting with those sufferd people who has always been stollen by the most powerfull - including the previous governments - that allowed corruption to be installed as an "institution" in this country.
I am not rich but I can consider myself part of the brazilian elite, but I don't close my eyes to the many mistakes other governments made in the past that this blind elite insists in puting under the