A Formal Apology for Past Negligence

In a meaningful step towards reconciliation, the Brazilian government issued a formal apology on Monday to the families of individuals who perished during the nation’s military dictatorship. The apology centers around the mishandling of remains discovered 35 years ago in a clandestine common grave.

The acknowledgment of negligence by the Brazilian State, specifically regarding the identification process of remains found in Perus, marks a pivotal moment. Minister of Human Rights, Macaé Evaristo, stated that despite investing approximately 200,000 Brazilian reais (about $35,000 USD) annually, thes efforts have been insufficient to bring closure to the families affected.

What the Brazilian government has been doing is continuing the process of seeking to investigate and accountability. We need to remember that our ministry was dismantled. Families have the right to truth. Brazilian society has the right to truth.

macaé Evaristo, Minister of Human Rights

The Haunting Discovery at Dom Bosco Cemetery

the story traces back to 1990, when over 1,000 blue bags containing human remains were unearthed in a ditch within the Dom Bosco cemetery, located in the Perus district of São Paulo. This grim discovery was among the first of many common graves revealed after the end of the 21-year military regime in 1985 [[3]].

While many of the remains were believed to belong to victims of the dictatorship, the clandestine pit also contained the bodies of unidentified individuals with no connection to the political strife. This complicates the already arduous task of identification and closure for grieving families.

The Long Road to Identification and Justice

For nearly a quarter of a century, the discovered remains were entrusted to state universities and international laboratories. Despite these efforts, only a small fraction of families have successfully identified their loved ones. The official apology is part of an agreement between prosecutors, families, and the State, coinciding with the Day of the Right to Truth, a day commemorated internationally.

Gilberto Molina, who attended the ceremony representing the families, successfully identified his brother Flávio’s remains in 2005.Though, it wasn’t until 2019 that the Brazilian state officially acknowledged responsibility for Flávio’s death, issuing a third death certificate reflecting this acknowledgment.

It was a funeral of almost 50 years. For some other families, it is still even longer. I hope every family still perseveres in their search for justice.

Gilberto Molina, representative of the families

Historical Context: The Brazilian Military Dictatorship

The military dictatorship in Brazil, also known as the Fifth Brazilian Republic, began on April 1, 1964, following a coup d’état against President João Goulart [[3]]. the United States government supported the coup [[3]].

The Brazilian Truth Commission reported in 2014 that at least 434 people were killed and over 100 disappeared during the dictatorship. The disappearance of former Legislator Rubens Paiva, as depicted in the Oscar-winning film “Ainda Estou Aqui” (Still here), has reignited public interest in the abuses committed during this period.

Challenges to Justice and Accountability

Nilmário Miranda, a former minister of the Government and long-time human rights activist, highlighted the meaning of discovering the common grave shortly after Brazil’s return to democracy. He credited then-Mayor of São Paulo, Luiza Erundina, for initiating the search, despite facing death threats.

Everything was under the carpet of society, everything was hidden and you could not talk about it. That put in check the agreement that ended with the dictatorship,which did not punish torturers and executioners.

Nilmário Miranda, former Minister of the Government

Miranda’s statement refers to the Amnesty Law of 1979, which shielded military personnel from prosecution for crimes committed during the regime. Though, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil may soon partially reverse this law in cases involving individuals killed by state agents whose remains disappeared.

Hope and Dissatisfaction

Antonio Pires Eustáquio, the administrator of the Dom Bosco Cemetery since 1976, who aided families in their decades-long pursuit of justice, welcomed the apology.

This can only happen in a democracy. The dictators do not apologize for their mistakes. I remember that at that time people always wondered if they were going to kill me because I knew where the illegal ditch was. My presence here means that democracy won.

Antonio Pires Eustáquio, administrator of the Dom bosco Cemetery

However, for some, the apology falls short. Crimeia Almeida, whose husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law disappeared as guerrillas approximately 50 years ago, believes that the state’s apology is insufficient.

The apology is not enough. It is indeed pleasant, we get excited, but it does not solve the criminal act.

Crimeia Almeida