Brazil lawyers to bring action to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
The Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and its offices in Amazonas and Roraima reported this Friday (Jan. 6) that they will bring an action against the Brazilian government to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights due to massacres in prisons in those states, where at least 89 people were killed in prison riots this week.
This Friday, 33 prisoners were murdered at the Monte Cristo agricultural prison (PAMC) in Boa Vista, the largest prison in the state of Roraima. This riot came just days after at least 56 people were killed during a 17-hour riot at the Anísio Jobim prison complex (COMPAJ) in Manaus.
Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said the killings were caused for of the PCC (First Command of the Capital) to settle s with other of the PCC. Moraes denied that the killings were "a retaliation" from the PCC to the North Family (FDN) gang, after the massacre in Manaus prison, which caused the death of 56 prisoners. Both gangs are embroiled in a power dispute over the control of drug trafficking and of prison units of Amazonas.
Without control
According to OAB President Claudio Lamachia, the Brazilian government has lost control of the prisons, which are in the hands of gangs. According to Lamachia, the purpose of the Inter-American Court is to oblige the government to take action to enforce laws and strengthen the democratic state of law.
"What happened earlier this week in the state of Amazonas, and what happened yesterday in the state of Roraima, is a clear, perfect, and impressive demonstration of the total failure of the Brazilian government in the istration of the prison system," noted Lamachia in a message to journalists.
The Brazilian government already answers to the Inter-American Human Rights for violations in prison units of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre central prison), Rondônia (Urso Branco), Pernambuco (Aníbal Bruno) and Maranhão (Pedrinhas), in addition to São Paulo (Parque São Lucas).
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Brazil lawyers to bring action to Inter-American Court of Human Rights
