Brazil’s Foreign Ministry Replies to Michelle Bachelet’s Statements

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Last night, September 4th, the Foreign Ministry published a note in which it said it was dismayed by the statements made by the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

In an interview in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday morning, the UN representative said that there was a “decrease in democracy” in Brazil and spoke about police violence in the country. “We saw a rise in police violence, in the midst of a public discourse that legitimizes summary executions and lack of accountability”. Bachelet also commented on the fires in the Amazon.

In a statement, Itamaraty stressed that Brazil is proud of the “strength and resilience of its democracy” and that the country has demonstrated remarkable “institutional stability” that has enabled it to overcome severe trials over corruption.

The note added that President Jair Bolsonaro was democratically elected with more than 57 million votes and was mandated by the population to “guarantee his full exercise of the right to life, safety, physical integrity and property, among others”.

Earlier, through his social media, President Jair Bolsonaro said that the UN’s high commissioner had made unnecessary comments on Brazilian domestic politics.

When addressing police violence, the note stressed that in the first four months of 2019, the murder and homicide rates in Brazil have dropped 21.2 percent and that there are other measures to increase the government’s ability to defend itself against violence. “The civic and democratic space is alive and expanding in Brazil,” reads the text.

Regarding the fires in the Amazon region, the note stresses that fires are a frequent seasonal phenomenon during the dry season and that they are close to the average of the past 20 years.

“The High Commissioner also seems to disregard the Brazilian government’s actions, such as the deployment of the Armed Forces, to fight the fires. These measures evidence the country’s commitment to the Amazon and the region’s sustainable development. So far, the Green Operation Brazil has over 4,500 people, some 250 vehicles and 11 aircraft. In all, the Armed Forces have a contingent of 43,000 troops deployed to operate in the Amazon region, as required”.

Finally, the note emphasizes that the UN should focus its efforts on the most pressing issues”, thus preventing any precipitation in Brazil’s domestic policy “where the three branches  (of government) operate in absolute autonomy and the rule of law is in full force”.

Read the reaction of the Chilean political elite to the clash between Michelle Bachelet and Jair Bolsonaro here and the reaction of the Chilean President here.