BRAZIL
Written by Américo Gomes
Tuesday, 10 June 2014 14:29
The state and federal governments are trying to criminalize the social movements.
Their objective is to force the workers and the youth who occupied the streets as of June 2013 and today are going forth with strikes and mobilizations into retreat. The governments, the Justice and the police are under the FIFA`s command to guarantee the multinationals’ profits during the World Cup.
Rio Grande do Sul`s government, in a more selective way, is directly attacking militants from PSTU, PSOL and the anarchist federation (FAG).
On May 16th, the Judge from the 9th Judicial Circumscription of Porto Alegre accepted the report filled by the Public Ministry against six activists of the Bloc of Struggle for the Public Transportation, that led last year´s mobilizations. The unjust accusation consists on the formation of armed “criminal association” for the “practice of damage on patrimony”, explosion and robbery.
The activists from the Bloc of Struggles that are being prosecuted are: Matheus Pereira Gomes, PSTU’s member and a member of the National Assembly of Free Students (ANEL); Lucas Maróstica, affiliated to the PSOL and the JUNTOS collective; José Vicente Mertz, anarchist militant; Rodrigo Barcellos Brizolla and Alfeu Costa da Silveira Neto, from the Utopia and Struggle Autonomous Movement and Gilian Vinícius Dias Cidade, affiliated to the PSTU.
As a proof of the supposedly criminal association, they are arguing that in a meeting that took place in the state´s data-processing workers union, the group organized crimes that were carried out during the June 27th, 2013 demonstrations. The proof being the testimony of a reporter from the Zero Hora newspaper, who accounts for imprecise, generic and absolutely false facts.
In the police investigation it is possible to see the account of civil policemen infiltrated during the mobilizations, in complete violation of the constitutional right to the freedom of manifestation, meeting and political organization.
In spite of this absurd practice, the investigation was unable to establish any relationship with the alleged crimes. This means there is no evidences that the activists committed any of the crimes they are accused of.
In fact, the activists are being charged for leading last year´s mobilizations against the increase in the price of the bus fare, in a clear persecution whose objective is to silence all those who struggle.
To struggle is not a crime!
We need to guarantee the freedom of the activists!
It is urgent to go through with a campaign that guarantees the freedom of these young activists who are being charged, in a more general context of a Campaign against the Criminalization of the Social Movements.
The calendar includes June 5th, date in which an act will take place in Porto Alegre (RS), and the following 6th, date of the Seminary against Criminalization in Florianápolis (Santa Catarina).
To go forth with the campaign it is necessary that entities and personalities send telegrams, motions and notes of support. Subscribe the online petition for their freedom clicking here: Against the criminalization of the Bloc of Struggle’s activists
Participate in the campaign! Download the motion model that follows and send your support message.
Excelentíssimo Juiz de Direito da 9ª Vara Criminal de Porto Alegre – RS.
Dr. Carlos Francisco Gross.
Ref.: processo n. 001/2.13.0045013-2
The Trade Union / Organization / Students Organization / Movement …….. render our solidarity with Matheus Gomes, Gilian Cidade, Rodrigo Barcellos Brizolla, Alfeu Costa Neto, Lucas Maróstica and José Vicente Mertz, members of the Bloc of Struggle from Porto Alegre who are being unjustily charged of the formation of criminal association for the practice of damage on the public patrimony, robbery and explosion.
In the 50th anniversary of the civilian-military coup that established a military dictatorship in Brazil the governments and the police attack the social movement that took to the streets to demand better conditions in public services such as transport, health, education and housing that are increasingly precarious.
Supposedly a police case, it is actually a clear political persecution. Investigations that resulted in the Police Inquest 017/2013 in Rio Grande do Sul are an attempt to silence the popular discontent with the current situation of public services and a restriction of democratic freedoms of expression and organization.
In this sense we argue against the political persecution and demand a halting of the Criminal Suit no. 001/2.13.0045013-2.
Send the motion to: frpoacent9vcri@tj.rs.gov.br
Copy to: sapolim@hotmail.com, direitodeclasse@yahoo.com.br
Translation: Alejandra Rojas