UN calls on Brazil to respect legitimacy of nonviolent demonstrations

Criado em 18/06/13 11h42 e atualizado em 20/06/13 07h09
Por Renata Giraldi Edição:José Romildo / Nira Foster Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – The Human Rights Office of the United Nations (UN) has called on the Brazilian government to ensure that demonstrations take place freely in the country. In a press release, the UN called for dialogue and nonviolence in dealing with protests. And suggested that charges of the use of excessive force be investigated.

Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the UN office, praised President Dilma Rousseff on her attitude toward the protests: “We congratulate President Dilma Rousseff for recognizing the legitimacy of the demonstrations and for ruling out the use of rubber bullets by the police in São Paulo,” he said.

Colville expressed concern over reports of damage, injuries and arbitrary arrests. “Some social organizations have complained that some arrests were arbitrary,” he pointed out during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

“We urge all parties to seek open dialogue to settle the conflict and look for alternatives in addressing legitimate social demands and preventing further violence,” Colville said.

A UN statement explained that the protests were triggered by a bus and subway fare hike and fueled by public discontent over government expenditures on preparations for the 2014 World Soccer Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games due to take place in  Brazil. “There are more organized protests coming, but we are still concerned with the use of excessive force by the police as reported over the past days. Such incidents must not happen again,” the text read.

Colville added: “We call on Brazil's government to take every step to ensure the right of peaceful assembly and to avoid the use of disproportionate force during protests. We also request authorities to conduct prompt, complete, independent and unbiased investigations into claims of excessive use of force”.

Edition: José Romildo / Nira Foster
Translation: Mayra Borges / Allen Bennett

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