Abin reports from 8/1 were sent via WhatsApp – 04/28/2023 – Politics

Intelligence reports from Abin (Brazilian Intelligence Agency) about the risk of attacking the headquarters of the three Powers were sent in WhatsApp groups and directly to some leaders of public bodies or authorities, according to reports made to the Sheet.

Abin’s alerts between the 2nd and 8th of January were compiled by the agency and secretly delivered to the CCAI (Mixed Commission for the Control of Intelligence Activities) of the National Congress on 20 January.

The document sent to the commission and information gathered by the CPI of the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District show that, on January 7, Abin joined a WhatsApp group with members of the federal government and the Federal District.

Before that, however, the Abin report states that intelligence alerts were already being triggered for the then minister of the GSI (Institutional Security Office) Gonçalves Dias and 13 bodies of the governments Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Ibaneis Rocha (MDB).

According to a person who participated in the group created on January 7, some reports were also sent directly to WhatsApp from authorities involved in the security of the Esplanada dos Ministérios.

The use of the application to exchange intelligence information became common in the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government, during the management of Augusto Heleno at the GSI. At the time, Abin was led by delegate and current federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ) —who should be nominated for the mixed CPI on January 8th.

During the Bolsonaro government, Abin bypassed the official system used for distributing alerts and reports — Sisbin (Brazilian Intelligence System) — and began sending reports via WhatsApp groups, under the pretext of speeding up communication.

wanted by SheetAbin stated that it sends and receives information “through appropriate channels”, and that “the same communication channels chosen in relation to the acts of January 8, 2023 were used efficiently in critical events” in 2021 and 2022 , such as elections and the presidential inauguration.

“The Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) works in full cooperation with the bodies that are part of the Brazilian Intelligence System (SISBIN) and other partners. Information is sent and received through appropriate channels, decided in advance and jointly,” said the agency.

“For the decision on the channel, the sensitivity of the subject dealt with, the degree of secrecy and the need for dissemination in a quick and timely manner are taken into account. The same communication channels chosen in relation to the acts of January 8, 2023 were used , efficiently, in critical events such as the truck drivers’ movements in 2021, the acts of September 7, 2022, the elections of 2022 and the presidential inauguration on January 1, 2023.”

In February, the Lula government decided to transfer Abin from the GSI umbrella to the Civil House, led by Minister Rui Costa.

The report sent to the CCAI and obtained by the Sheet indicates that at least three messages were sent directly to the former minister of the GSI Gonçalves Dias — all on January 8, at 8:53 am, 12:05 pm and 1:00 pm.

The group created on January 7th was named CIISP/DF Manifestação, the acronym for Integrated Public Security Intelligence Cell of the Federal District.

The cell, according to the Abin document delivered to the National Congress, was headed by delegate Marília Ferreira de Alencar, DF undersecretary of Intelligence in the Secretariat of Public Security led by Anderson Torres.

Marília also worked at the Ministry of Justice —commanded by Torres at the time— as Director of Intelligence.

The Abin report states that the group was composed of representatives of the GSI, PF (Federal Police), PRF (Federal Highway Police), DINT/SEOPI/MJSP (Intelligence Directorate of the Secretariat for Integrated Operations of the Ministry of Justice), PM/ DF (Military Police of the Federal District), PC/DF (Civil Police of the Federal District) and SSI/DF (Undersecretary of Intelligence of the Public Security Secretariat of the Federal District).

The document delivered to the CCAI does not, however, inform the name of the representatives of each institution. Before the creation of the group, on January 7, Abin says that intelligence alerts were also sent to seven bodies, including the ministries of Justice, Defense and Infrastructure.

They are: CIE (Army Intelligence Center), CIM (Navy Intelligence Center), AID/MD (Defense Intelligence Advisory of the Ministry of Defense), DINT/SEOPI (Intelligence Directorate of the Integrated Operations Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice), ANTT (National Land Transport Agency), MINFRA (Ministry of Infrastructure) and Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency).

Abin’s participation in the WhatsApp group is also documented in a memorandum drawn up by the DF Public Security Secretariat on January 25th. In it, the folder states that it created the group on January 7 to “increase and facilitate the exchange of information”.

Gonçalves Dias’ defense stated in a note that he was not alerted by any agency or official body about the January 8 acts.

“Contrary to what was reported, the general made every effort within his power to ensure that nothing more serious occurred, as will be proven at the end of all ongoing investigations,” said lawyer André Callegari.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security claims that none of the leaders of the new management participated in WhatsApp groups managed by Abin. The folder also says that it has no information about “materials eventually sent to leaders who belonged to the previous government”.

“The information from the Federal Police, which the MJSP received on the night of January 7, was immediately passed on to the Government of the Federal District, a body which, according to the Federal Constitution and the laws, has the exclusive competence to carry out ostensive policing in the Esplanade of Ministries.”

This Friday (28), the acting minister of the GSI Ricardo Capelli condemned the use of WhatsApp to exchange intelligence information. Abin did not explain, however, whether it continues to use WhatsApp.

The report tried to contact Ramagem and Heleno, but there was no response.