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Second UN witness shot in Brazil
Another country going down the tubes with very few people paying attention. EFL:A Brazilian man who gave evidence to a United Nations human rights commission visiting Brazil has been shot dead. Gerson Jesus Bispo was the second person to be killed after speaking to UN envoy Asma Jahangir about alleged death squads, murder and torture by police. Human rights groups say the two men were killed in retribution for talking to the envoy, who has been outspoken about the situation in Brazil. Some of the countryâs most senior judges have responded angrily to her suggestion that the United Nations should offer advice on reforming the countryâs legal system. I guess they feel the same way about the UN we do. Mr Bispo, 26, was on his way to work when he was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike on Thursday in the city of Santo Antonio de Jesus, in the state of Bahia. Those damm motorcycles again. The car mechanic had presented evidence to Mrs Jahangir about the murder of his brother last year. He said a death squad possibly linked to the police was responsible. Nilmario Miranda, head of Brazilâs federal human rights office, told reporters that Mr Bispoâs death was "an open challenge" by the death squads "to demonstrate that they are untouchable". Two weeks ago a 24-year-old, Flavio Manoel da Silva was shot dead in the state of Paraiba, also in the north-east of Brazil. Just days earlier he too had spoken about death squads to the UN envoy. Bet she doesnât get many invites to cocktail parties. Mrs Jahangir spent three weeks in Brazil investigating summary executions and other killings allegedly carried out by police before concluding that some of the countryâs police force did continue to kill civilians with impunity. During her meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva she suggested the UN could offer recommendations to help reform Brazilâs legal system. Theyâve been so successful doing that in, er, ........ The president responded favourably but some judges view the idea as unconstitutional. One said that agreeing to an external inspection would put Brazil in the same position as Iraq. He said the country would be then a republic subjected to international control. Mrs Jahangir is now preparing a report on her visit. Itâs what the UN does best, preparing reports. Then theyâll discuss it for a couple of years before they release a statement. Posted by: Steve 2003-10-10 |
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