SAO PAULO (Portal) – The three commanders of Brazil’s armed forces released a joint statement on Friday, saying that solutions to Brazil’s disputes must stem from the democratic rule of law, while reaffirming the right to peaceful protest.
Her statement came amid concerns over the role of Brazil’s armed forces, which ruled a military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, during this year’s presidential election. Outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro, himself a former army captain, had tried to involve the military in challenging Brazil’s electronic voting system.
Bolsonaro narrowly lost the October 30 vote to left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and while he didn’t back down, he didn’t block the transfer of power. However, some of his supporters have refused to accept the outcome and have camped outside military bases across Brazil, asking the military to intervene – a step they have so far not taken.
In the letter, signed by the heads of the Brazilian army, navy and air force, the three commanders write that the Brazilian constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the right to peaceful demonstrations.
“The Brazilian Constitution sets out the duties and rights that must be observed by all Brazilians and that must be guaranteed by the institutions, particularly with regard to freedom of expression, freedom to peacefully protest and freedom of movement within the national territory,” said they wrote.
“The armed forces remain vigilant, vigilant and focused on their constitutional role in ensuring our sovereignty, order and progress, always in defense of our people,” they added.
(Reporting by Eduardo Simões; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)