Association reports the situation of people trapped in front of the Brasília HQ

The Santa Clara Christian Association, located 15 km from the center of Brasília, has carried out solidarity actions to help the more than 1,000 detainees who were arrested by order of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), on the last day 9 , in front of the Army Headquarters (QG), in Brasília.

The association’s work with the detainees began on January 9, when hundreds of people were removed from the camp in front of the Army HQ and taken to the National Police Academy, where they underwent a series of constitutional violations, according to the OAB-DF.

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After almost 20 days of the incident, volunteers from the association report the difficulties of access by family members and lawyers to the detainees and the precariousness of the prison situation. Another reported problem is the difficulty for released prisoners to return to their cities of origin within the 24-hour period, determined by Moraes, to report to the districts.

“People are not managing to reach the cities in time, for financial and logistical reasons, since some trips to the interior of Brazil take days. In addition, we are trying to help with the payment of tickets”, said one of the volunteers.

The association has already paid more than 173 tickets for both those who were released at the Academy and also those who are being released to return to the city where they came from. The work has relied on donations to continue providing the necessary support to detainees and family members who come to Brasília to be able to visit or find out more information about a relative who is in prison.

A family welcomed by the association, who came from the interior of Mato Grosso do Sul to visit a relative who was arrested on the 9th, remains without answers and unable to visit him in the penitentiary. It is about a young man who arrived at the camp on Sunday night, without even having participated in the acts of vandalism in Praça dos Três Poderes, and who was detained only for being together with people camped.

The protesters are being accused, in an open investigation by the STF, of committing terrorist acts (Articles 2, 3, 5 and 6 of Law 13,260 of 2016) and the crimes of criminal association and attempted violent abolition of the Democratic State of Law ( articles 288 and 359-L of the Penal Code), among others, for the fact that they were in the camps to ask for action by the Armed Forces against the result of the elections.

“Some arrests were analyzed by the STF and some are already being released with an electronic anklet so that they can return to their state of origin. We are welcoming those who do not have financial conditions, offering them passage, bath, food and rest”, wrote Father Geraldo Gama, president of the association.

Reception

In an open letter posted on the internet, Father Geraldo Gama recounted the events he had followed since January 9, when he visited the Federal Police facilities and prayed with the detainees.

Among the reports presented by the priest, without mentioning the names, there is that of elderly people aged between 60 and 70 years, who were surprised to be taken from the HQ and who “were depressed, sad and afraid of persecution”.

“We were kidnapped and taken to a concentration camp, to finally be arrested, without any right of reply and defense”, says one of the reports.

Upon seeing the situation up close and listening to the reports of so many people, the priest stressed that he could not leave them helpless and therefore mobilized numerous volunteers to assist in the mission. “Providence manifests itself unexpectedly and simply,” he said.

About 400 people were welcomed by the association, most were elderly people and people with comorbidities, entitled to all meals. Until the 14th of January, when the last group was able to board for their destination, almost 6 thousand meals were offered, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

The association also delivered 271 lunchboxes, 311 snack kits and 354 hygiene kits to people who had been released from the Police Academy and had no way to return to their homes. Among shoes and clothing, at least 350 items were donated to those whose belongings were lost.

For the detainees who are still trapped in Papuda or Colmeia, the association also provided clothing and personal hygiene kits, 500 kits for men and 300 kits for women. 1,280 pads and 300 bras were offered to the detained women.

The association

Founded on April 18, 2015, the Christian Association Santa Clara, a non-profit Catholic entity, develops its social activities in Setor Santa Luzia, in Cidade Estrutural, one of the most deprived regions of the Federal District, and its mission is to strengthen families in of vulnerability, by promoting Christian principles and values ​​as an instrument for transforming the local reality.

The association provides services to the local community, such as full care in a day care center for 100 children, assistance provided by volunteers in the medical, dental, psychological, nutritional, legal, cultural and sports areas, in addition to training and income promotion courses for young people and adults. In partnership with the Jesus Bom Pastor Pastoral Area, it also offers assistance to around 420 families, with donations of food, clothing, blankets, medicines, among others.