Lula bars book that tells the history of guns in Brazil approved in 2021

The Ministry of Culture under the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) suspended this week the execution of the book project “Weapons and Defense: the History of Weapons in Brazil”, which had been approved by the ministry in 2021 through the Rouanet Law by the then development secretary André Porciúncula (PL). He was a candidate for federal deputy for Bahia in last year’s elections.

The project proposed by producer Rodrigo Cezar Moreira King was funded by the arms manufacturer Taurus with the capture of tax incentives allowed by legislation in the amount of R$ 421 thousand – in all, the producer requested R$ 427 thousand. According to the recommendation of the National Commission for Cultural Incentives (CNIC), irregularities were found in the rendering of accounts and, therefore, determined the “precautionary disqualification of the proponent” and the blocking of the accounts linked to the project.

The execution of the book began in March 2022 after its publication in the Official Gazette (see in full) and, according to the ministry, proof of expenses was not sent to the folder. The CNIC requested the “immediate presentation of the products already prepared and the tax documents of the expenses incurred so far”, and said that, depending on the analysis of the information, it may determine the full return of the resources and the suspension of the tax incentive.

The ministry reported that one of the irregularities found was the presentation of a letter from Taurus in which it guarantees investment in the project in the 2021 fiscal year, in the amount of BRL 336,000. This, according to the folder, would characterize a “conflict of interest and undue advantage of the sponsor”.

From that letter, Moreira King would have asked for special attention and urgency in processing the project with the then Special Secretariat for Culture, which authorized the raising of funds in December 2021. On March 11, 2022, he would have managed to obtain the exact amount proposed from Taurus.

A second incentive in the amount of BRL 86,000, from the same company, was not moved, “since funding exceeded the amount that had been approved for execution and has now been blocked”, says the ministry.

The book producer has 20 days to submit to the Support System for Culture Incentive Laws (SALIC) the necessary clarifications on the purposes and objectives of the work, financial proof and the achievement of the agreed object, distribution plan and evidence of effective realization . A People’s Gazette Moreira King could not be reached for comment on the suspension.

The CNIC met on April 18 and 19, in Brasília, to analyze 1,508 projects that were supposedly in an irregular situation in the Salic, as “they had been approved without approval by the collegiate”, according to the ministry.

Book shows evolution of weapons in historical facts

According to the summary of the book project, presented in the Official Gazette of the Union in December 2021 (see in full), the publication would have a circulation of three thousand copies with 120 pages each, and would tell the history of weapons in Brazil with a focus on in the main historical milestones until the 21st century.

In addition to the printed book, versions in digital and audiobook formats would also be produced as measures of accessibility and democratization of access, available for free download.

The project also indicated that the entire print run of the book would be distributed free of charge upon request on the initiative’s website and to libraries registered with the National System of Public Libraries, in accordance with the distribution plan.