GSI says it will seek balance between civilians and military – 04/05/2023 – Politics

The new minister of the GSI (Institutional Security Office), general Marcos Antonio Amaro, said that one of his missions in command of the body will be to seek a “balance in the occupation of positions” between civilians and the military, at the request of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Silva (PT).

Amaro stated that some GSI positions are specific to military personnel, but on the other hand he mentioned two cabinet secretariats —which deal with the governance of issues, such as the nuclear program and the Brazilian airspace system— in which it is possible to include civilians “without prejudice ” in acting.

He took office this Thursday morning (4) as the new minister of the GSI, in a closed and discreet ceremony, in Lula’s office. The soldier replaced General Gonçalves Dias, who resigned after the dissemination of images of the internal circuit of the Planalto Palace, during the January 8 invasion.

The new head of the GSI stated that Lula asked him to increase the number of civilians working in the body, which ended up emptying in recent months, losing responsibility for guarding the President of the Republic and also Abin (Brazilian Intelligence Agency).

“In that first moment, when there was this emptying, not only of attributions but also of personnel, we have to seek to replenish our staff, bringing people to exercise these competences, in the administrative and operational areas of the GSI. So this is the first effort, I am studying with those who remained here at the GSI this need to bring people to compose our staff and staff”, said Amaro, in an interview with Globonews.

“There is an intention on the part of the president to also take advantage of bringing more civilians here to the Institutional Security Office. I will logically seek to promptly comply with this directive from the president and I am taking stock of the situation here in order to improve this capacity to resolve these attributions of the Office of Institutional Security”, he added.

Amaro then stated that there are GSI activities that are the responsibility of the military and cannot be entrusted to civilians. He cited in particular the Secretariat for Coordination and Presidential Security.

However, he stated that there is room for appointing civilians to governance positions in other secretariats. And it is in these that he will seek a “balance”.

“There are two other secretariats, one is for systems coordination, which deals with the Brazilian nuclear program, at that level of governance of that system, and another for the Brazilian space air system, also at that level of governance. These are things that are also very much focused on military activities. , currently held by the military. Some of these positions can be occupied by civilians, without prejudice. So we will have to make a compensation to give a certain balance in the occupation of positions”, he said.

Amaro was also asked about possible GSI and government intelligence failures in the days leading up to January 8. More specifically, there were questions about the messages that were forwarded to government agents, warning of the risks.

Documents obtained by Sheet show that Abin (Brazilian Intelligence Agency) sent alerts to Gonçalves Dias (Institutional Security Office) and the Ministry of Justice, already under the command of Flávio Dino (PSB), on the possibility of violent actions since January 6th. and invasion of public buildings in acts that would take place two days later, on January 8.

These documents were sent by Abin to the CCAI (Mixed Commission for the Control of Intelligence Activities) of the National Congress on January 20th. Reports are kept confidential.

Amaro avoided specifically commenting on failures in intelligence during the invasion of the headquarters of the Powers. Speaking more broadly, explaining “fundamentals of intelligence”, he stressed that the way in which messages are sent and their content is in many cases as important as the agent with decision-making power receiving them in advance

“I am clarifying an intelligence fundamental. If the gravity is such that it requires a search for other sources of communication, for a more direct channel, this perhaps should be sought. I am not passing on responsibilities [para os agentes que enviaram as mensagens]”, he stated.

“But this assertiveness is important. I am saying this is a foundation for the dissemination of intelligence knowledge, the issue of assertiveness and timing and not just ‘in time'”, he added.