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Message Text: Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

1. The document summarizes a classified cable from the US Consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil regarding political arrests and torture that have been ongoing in Sao Paulo for over a year. 2. It describes two specific cases of torture - one involving electric shocks and being suspended from the "parrot's perch" for 43 hours, and another case where a suspected terrorist was shot from head to toe with an automatic weapon. 3. Concern over political repression in Sao Paulo has increased recently as the tactics have started to affect members of the elite, including the Catholic Church, reigniting protests from students and bishops over human rights violations.

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43 views6 pages

Message Text: Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

1. The document summarizes a classified cable from the US Consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil regarding political arrests and torture that have been ongoing in Sao Paulo for over a year. 2. It describes two specific cases of torture - one involving electric shocks and being suspended from the "parrot's perch" for 43 hours, and another case where a suspected terrorist was shot from head to toe with an automatic weapon. 3. Concern over political repression in Sao Paulo has increased recently as the tactics have started to affect members of the elite, including the Catholic Church, reigniting protests from students and bishops over human rights violations.

Uploaded by

cybercelso
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

Message Text

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 01 SAO PA 00985 081150 Z

46
ACTION ARA-17

INFO OCT-01 ADP-00 AID-20 NIC-01 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-09

H-02 INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-10 PA-03 RSC-01 PRS-01

SS-15 USIA-12 NEA-10 EUR-25 OMB-01 CU-04 SY-10 RSR-01

/156 W
--------------------- 003485
R 081115 Z MAY 73
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4150
INFO AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO
AMCONSUL RECIFE
AMCONSUL BELEM
AMCONSUL PORTO ALEGRE
AMCONSUL SALVADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAO PAULO 0985

E. O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PINT, BR
SUBJECT: POLITICAL ARRESTS AND TORTURE IN SAO PAULO

REF BRASILIA 2145, RIO DE JANEIRO A-90

1. INCIDENTS OF POLITICAL ARRESTS FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE


NATIONAL SECURITY LAW, EITHER FOR TERRORISM OR OTHER POLITICAL
OFFENSES, HAVE BEEN CONSTANT IN SAO PAULO OVER THE PAST YEAR.
WHILE THE NUMBER MAY VARY FROM MONTH TO MONTH, THE GENERAL
LEVEL HAS REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME AS BEST WE CAN TELL.

2. INTERROGATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED


BY TORTURE, I. E. THE PARROT' S PERCH, ELECTRIC SHOCKS, STARVA-
TION, ETC. AN MDB CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL IN SAO PAULO WHO
WAS ARRESTED AFTER NOVEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND HELD FOR
SIX WEEKS IN THE MILITARY INTERROGATION CENTER ( OBAN) TOLD US
AFTER BEING RELEASED THAT ABOUT 60 POLITICAL PRISONERS WERE
CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 SAO PA 00985 081150 Z

Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005


Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

KEPT AT INTERROGATION CENTER, ITS APPROXIMATE CAPACITY,


DURING MOST OF HIS TIME THERE. MANY WERE PLAINLY INVOLVED IN
SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES BUT OTHERS APPEARED TO BE ONLY POLITICAL
IDEALISTS OPPOSED TO THE REGIME. ALL WERE SUBJECTED TO SOME
FORM OF TORTURE. HE HIMSELF WAS NOT ABUSED SINCE AS A
LEGITIMATE POLITICIAN AND MAN OF MEANS HE WAS NOT " TORTURABLE".

3. ANOTHER SOURCE, A PROFESSIONAL INFORMER AND INTERROGATOR


WORKING FOR THE MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CENTER IN OSASCO
( INDUSTRIAL SUBURB OF SAO PAULO,) TOLD US ON APRIL 24 OF HIS
OWN " COUNTER- SUBVERSIVE" ACTIVITIES. HE EXPLAINED HOW HE HAD
BROKEN A " COMMUNIST" RING INVOLVING A CIVIL POLICE OFFICER.
THE OFFICER WAS PERSUADED TO TALK BY ATTACHING ELECTRICAL SHOCK
DEVICES TO HIS EARS AND TOLD OF HIS CONNECTION WITH A GIRL
FRIEND WHO WAS PROMPTLY PICKED UP. SHE WAS UNCOOPERATIVE, HOW-
EVER, SO SHE WAS PUT ON THE PARROT' S PERCH FOR 43 HOURS WITHOUT
FOOD OR WATER. THIS BROKE HER, OUR SOURCE SAID. TORTURE IN
ONE FORM OR ANOTHER WAS COMMON PRACTICE IN INTERROGATION IN
OSASCO. HE ALSO GAVE FIRST- HAND ACCOUNT OF KILLING A SUBERSIVE
SUSPECT, WHICH HE CALLED " SEWING" THE SUSPECT UP, I. E. SHOOTING
HIM FROM HEAD TO TOES WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPON. ( FOR DETAILS SEE
MEMORANDUM OF THIS CONVERSATION DATED APRIL 26). OVER THE
PAST YEAR VARIOUS SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED TO US
THAT SUSPECTED TERRORISTS ARE KILLED AS MATTER OF STANDARD
PRACTICE. WE ESTIMATE PROBABLY AS MANY AS TWELVE HAVE BEEN
KILLED IN PAST YEAR IN SAO PAULO AREA.

4. WHILE LEVEL OF POLITICAL ARRESTS AND TORTURE HAS REMAINED


MORE OR LESS CONSTANT, THE CONCERN OVER REPRESSION IN SAO
PAULO HAS REACHED IN RECENT WEEKS ITS HIGHEST POINT IN YEAR
OR SO. FROM TIME TO TIME REPRESSIVE TACTICS OF SECURITY SER-
VICES AFFECT A PERSON WHO HAS TIES TO THE CHURCH, THE
POLITICAL CLASS OR OTHER ELITE GROUPS AND THUS WAKENS INTER-
EST IN THIS SUBJECT. THIS WAS THE CASE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE
POLICE ARRESTED A PRIEST AND HIS ASSISTANT AND FIRST BROUGHT
CARDINAL ARNS INTO OPEN OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME. IT HAS
HAPPENED AGAIN IN RECENT WEEKS IN SAO PAULO WITH THE
VANNUCHI CASE. THE DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH OF VANNUCHI FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS AROUSED THE STUDENT BODY IN SAO
PAULO AND THEY ENLISTED THE ASSISTANCE OF CARDINAL ARNS AND
OTHER CATHOLIC LEADERS IN PUBLICIZING HIS DEATH ( SAO PAULO' S
CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 SAO PA 00985 081150 Z

687 AND 803). THIS CONCERN IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND STU-
DENT LEADERS HAVE BEEN SOLICITING BISHOPS AROUND THE STATE
TO ENGAGE IN A SERIES OF MASSES LAMENTING HIS DEATH.

5. CONCERN HAS NOW SPREAD BEYOND CHURCH AND STUDENT CIRCLES


AND REAWAKENED WIDER INTEREST IN THE REPRESSION TACTICS OF THE
REGIME. FOR EXAMPLE, ROBERTO AND RICARCO CIVITA, OWNERS OF

Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005


Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

EDITORA BRIL, BRAZIL' S LARGEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL PUB-


LISHING HOUSE, TOLD OUR BPAO LAST WEEK THAT STUDENT UNREST
" IS HIGHEST IN OVER TWO YEARS." SECURITY FORCES HAD RAIDED
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAO PAULO AND ARRESTED A NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
WHEN SUCH OPPRESSION OCCURRED, THERE WERE BOUND TO BE MIS-
TAKES. CARDINAL ARNS WAS VERY CONCERNED AND ROBERTO CIVITA
PREDICTED A " MASS TO END ALL MASSES" TO LAMENT VIOLATION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS IN BRAZIL. ( COMMENT: THIS IS PROBABLY EXAGGERATED,
BUT MANY BISHOPS IN SAO PAULO INTEND TO FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE
IN CONNECTION WITH 25 TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR OF UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS OF MAN OF WHICH BRAZIL IS SIGNATORY.)
RICARDO CIVITA OBSERVED THAT MILITARY GOVERNMENTS IN PAST HAD
RELINQUISHED POWER, BUT THIS ONE HAD ACQUIRED A TASTE FOR
KEEPING IT. BOTH CIVITAS EMPHASIZED THAT THEIR EDITORIAL STAFFS
WERE DEMORALIZED BECAUSE REGIME PROHIBITED THEM FROM PUBLISH-
ING ANYTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE. ROBERTO SAID HE DREADED DAY
WHEN HIS YOUNG SON ASKED " WHAT IS FREEDOM, DADDY?"

4. OTHER SOURCES HAVE ALSO INDICATED TO US INCREASING CONCERN


OVER THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN BRAZIL. FORMER PRESIDENT JANIO
QUADROS TOLD US RECNTLY THAT HE EXPECTS A PERIOD OF HIGH TEN-
SION OVER THE NEXT 90 DAYS. HE CLAIMS THAT AT LEAST ONE FOUR-
STAR GENERAL SHARES THIS VIEW. QUADROS NOTED THAT THIS FEELING
HAD ONLY RECENTLY DEVEOPED AND THAT A MONTH BEFORE, HE HAD
PREDICTED A SMOOTH PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION AND A TRANQUIL
YEAR IN BRAZIL.

5. HENCE WE FIND THAT IN SAO PAULO REPRESSION HAS AGAIN


BECOME A LIVE ISSUE WHICH CONCERNS A WIDE NUMBER OF LEADERS
WHO ARE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN REPRESSIVE PRACTICES AT A TIME WHEN
THE REGIME IS MORE STABLE THAN EVER. WHATEVER THE EXPLANATION,
THE FEELING HERE IS THAT THIS ADDS A DISTURBING ELEMENT IN
A CLIMATE WHICH COULD BECOME TENSE OVER THE SUCCESSION QUESTION.
BUT THE RENEWED INTEREST IN REPRESSION DOES NOT MEAN THAT IN
CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 SAO PA 00985 081150 Z

SAO PAULO THERE HAS BEEN ANY REAL INCREASE, AND IN FACT THER
MAY HAVE BEEN A SLIGHT DECREASE, IN POLITICAL ARRESTS AND
TORTURE.
CHAPIN

CONFIDENTIAL
NMAFVVZCZ

*** Current Handling Restrictions *** n/a

Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005


Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

*** Current Classification *** CONFIDENTIAL

Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005


Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

Message Attributes
Automatic Decaptioning: X
Capture Date: 01 JAN 1994
Channel Indicators: n/a
Current Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Concepts: n/a
Control Number: n/a
Copy: SINGLE
Draft Date: 08 MAY 1973
Decaption Date: 01 JAN 1960
Decaption Note:
Disposition Action: RELEASED
Disposition Approved on Date:
Disposition Authority: kelleyw0
Disposition Case Number: n/a
Disposition Comment: 25 YEAR REVIEW
Disposition Date: 28 MAY 2004
Disposition Event:
Disposition History: n/a
Disposition Reason:
Disposition Remarks:
Document Number: 1973SAOPA00985
Document Source: CORE
Document Unique ID: 00
Drafter: n/a
Enclosure: n/a
Executive Order: GDS
Errors: n/a
Film Number: n/a
From: SAO PAULO
Handling Restrictions: n/a
Image Path:
ISecure: 1
Legacy Key: link1973/newtext/t19730539/aaaaikyu.tel
Line Count: 161
Locator: TEXT ON-LINE
Office: ACTION ARA
Original Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Original Handling Restrictions: n/a
Original Previous Classification: n/a
Original Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a
Page Count: 3
Previous Channel Indicators:
Previous Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a
Reference: n/a
Review Action: RELEASED, APPROVED
Review Authority: kelleyw0
Review Comment: n/a
Review Content Flags:
Review Date: 23 OCT 2001
Review Event:
Review Exemptions: n/a
Review History: RELEASED <23-Oct-2001 by kelleyw0>; APPROVED <30-Oct-2001 by kelleyw0>
Review Markings:

Declassified/Released
US Department of State
EO Systematic Review
30 JUN 2005

Review Media Identifier:


Review Referrals: n/a
Review Release Date: n/a
Review Release Event: n/a
Review Transfer Date:
Review Withdrawn Fields: n/a
Secure: OPEN
Status: <DBA CORRECTED> mcm 980107
Subject: POLITICAL ARRESTS AND TORTURE IN SAO PAULO REF BRASILIA 2145, RIO DE JANEIRO A-90
TAGS: PINT, BR, PINT
To: ARA
BELEM
BRASILIA
PORTO ALEGRE
RECIFE
RIO DE JANEIRO
SALVADOR

Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005


Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

SECSTATE WASHDC
Type: TE
Markings: Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005

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