Military clubs criticize the association of officers with coup acts

The Naval, Military and Air Force clubs, which bring together retired and retired officers from the Armed Forces, came to the defense, this Friday (16), of military personnel linked to former president Jair Bolsonaro who were being investigated for allegedly plotting a coup d’état, in 2022, to keep him in power.

Last week, generals Walter Braga Netto, former minister of the Civil House; Augusto Heleno, former head of the Institutional Security Office; and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, former Minister of Defense, were targets of search and seizure determined by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court, in Operation Tempus Veritatis.

“We observed, with apprehension, the exposure of different military leaders, associated with acts that allegedly undermined the Democratic Rule of Law – something that, it is worth noting, considering their life trajectories, we consider to be not very sustainable”, said, in the note, the Admiral João Afonso Prado Maia de Faria, General Sérgio Tavares Carneiro and Major Brigadier Marco Antonio Carballo Perez.

In the text, they say that it is “crucial to maintain the balance and separation of the three Powers of the Republic” and recognize “the imperative need to preserve the fundamental values ​​of the Democratic Rule of Law, such as citizenship, political pluralism, guarantee of individual rights and freedom of expression”.

The operation Tempus Veritatis has been challenged by conservative parliamentarians and jurists for criminalizing statements by Bolsonaro, Paulo Sérgio Nogueira and Augusto Heleno at a closed ministerial meeting, at Palácio do Planalto, in July 2022. At the time, they criticized the conduct of the electoral process by the Superior Electoral Court ( TSE), accusing the ministers of working for the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The three said that it was necessary to “act” before the elections, which has been interpreted as a manifestation of coup intent. During the investigation, the Federal Police found messages from Colonel Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp, with mention of a draft decree, prepared after Lula’s victory, to arrest Moraes and hold a new election.

In the clubs’ note, reserve and retired officers say that it is “essential that the processes in progress are conducted with responsibility and impartiality, respecting legal limits, due legal process, equality before the law, contradictory and broad defense” . “The accuracy of this approach is vital to help avoid the deterioration of relations in the military sphere”, adds the note.

In the end, they state that “to those who demand extreme positions from us, we reiterate that we will not promote dissent within the Armed Forces, a permanent objective of those who do not share our ideals, values ​​and love for the Country, ignoring our oath to defend it, if necessary, at the sacrifice of our own lives.” The statement appears to reference police accusations that officials linked to Bolsonaro had tried to pressure active generals to allegedly make them join the alleged coup attempt. The division of the Army into political wings is one of the greatest fears of officers today.

Read the full note below:

“The Naval, Military and Aeronautical Clubs recognize the imperative need to preserve the fundamental values ​​of the Democratic Rule of Law, such as citizenship, political pluralism, guarantee of individual rights and freedom of expression. Furthermore, it is crucial to maintain balance and separation of the three Powers of the Republic.

At a time when our society is facing dangerous polarization, concerns arise about antagonisms between different sectors. We observed, with apprehension, the exposure of different military leaders, associated with acts that allegedly undermined the Democratic Rule of Law – something that, it is worth noting, considering their life trajectories, we consider to be unlikely to be sustainable.

It is essential that ongoing processes are conducted with responsibility and impartiality, respecting legal limits, due legal process, equality before the law, adversarial proceedings and broad defense. The accuracy of this approach is vital to help avoid the deterioration of relations in the military sphere.

May everyone, without exception, fulfill their duties in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, without casuistry, aiming to restore peace, harmony and coexistence of diversity of opinions in our society. This is essential for the progress of our country and to prevent destabilizing adventures across all political and social spectrums.

To those who demand extreme positions from us, we reiterate that we will not promote dissent within the Armed Forces, a permanent objective of those who do not share our ideals, values ​​and love for the Homeland, ignoring our oath to defend it, if necessary, with sacrifice of our own lives.”