Bulletin 180 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil – 8/17/2018 – 8:10 PM
- On this Friday, August 17th, the UN Human Rights Committee issued a preliminary ruling on a complaint filed by ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s defense team along with Geoffrey Robertson on July 25th, 2018, and determined that the Brazilian State must take all measures necessary to permit that Lula enjoys and exercises his political rights from prison, as a candidate in the 2018 presidential elections, including appropriate access to the press and members of his political party and, also, that it cannot impede him from running in the 2018 presidential elections until all of the appeals processes against his conviction are completed. Read more here: http://www.pt.org.br/nota-onu-acata-pedido-de-lula-para-garantir-direito-de-candidato/
- The Brazilian state has to obey the UNHRC decision and take the necessary measures to permit that Lula exercises all of his political rights as a candidate in the October presidential elections even if he is in jail. This is the understanding of the defense lawyers for the ex-President, Cristiano Zanin Martins and Valeska Teixeira Zanin Martins; of the ex-minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim; and of the legal scholar Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, who gave a press conference this afternoon, on August 17th. Read more here: https://ptnacamara.org.br//2018/08/17/martelo-ja-esta-batido-brasil-tem-obrigacao-de-cumprir-decisao-da-onu/
3 – In a letter signed by PT National President, Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, released this evening, August 17th, the Party affirms that the UNHRC decision is to be obeyed. “The government and judiciary can’t rip up an international treaty that recognized the UN’s jurisdiction over political rights in our country.” The Party also repudiates the coup government Justice Ministry’s comments that there this represents “interference” by the UN. Read more here: http://www.pt.org.br/nota-pt-decisao-onu-lula/
4- In a note released this afternoon, the PT Blocs in Congress and the Senate applauded the preliminary ruling by the UNHRC, which determines that ex-President Lula can run in the next elections even if he is behind bars. Read the entire note here: https://ptnacamara.org.br//2018/08/17/nota-das-bancadas-do-pt-onu-garante-candidatura-de-lula/
- Brazil has been a signatory of the United Nations Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights since 2009. The international norm gained the force of law in the Nation when Congress implemented Legislative Decree 311 of 2009, in which Brazil recognizes the authority of the UN committee and commits to obeying its rulings. Read more here: http://www.pt.org.br/veja-norma-brasileira-que-obriga-pais-a-cumprir-decisao-da-onu/
- The UNHRC decision to issue the preliminary ruling for the Brazilian State to respect Lula’s political rights in the 2018 elections had repercussions in the media around the world on this Friday, August 17th. Read more here: http://www.pt.org.br/imprensa-mundial-repercute-decisao-da-onu-sobre-lula/
- After registering his candidacy, Lula has maintained his leadership in voter preference for the 2018 elections, according to a poll released on this Friday, August 17th. According to a poll conducted by XP/Ipespe between August 13-15th, the ex-President has 31% support, which is the same level he has had since May 15th. The next closest candidate is polling at 20%. Read more here:
http://www.pt.org.br/apos-registros-de-candidaturas-lula-mantem-lideranca-isolada/
- The UNHRC ruling was commemorated by the activists in the #LulaLivre Vigil. The space for struggle and resistance flew a giant balloon with the phrase, “Lula Livre” on it to mark this important decision. “It is one more victory for the working class,” said Regina Cruz, a member of the Vigil coordinating committee in Curitiba.
- On this 133rd day of resistance, the “good morning” shout to Lula was led by Robson Padilha, the Paraná State PT GLBTI Secretary. “We need to elect a legislative assembly and a national congress that represents the people,” he said. The “good afternoon” shout was led by Marialva dos Santos Sousa, an activist from the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) from Vale de Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais.
Bulletin 180 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil – 8/17/2018 – 8:10 PM
