Military personnel who went to events worked in the Presidency – 01/19/2023 – Power

A report in possession of the Ministry of Justice identifies at least eight active-duty military personnel assigned to the Presidency of the Republic during the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) who attended events last year at the coup-mongering camp in front of the Army headquarters, in Brasília. .

In addition, the document shows that some participated in a WhatsApp group in which anti-democratic messages and threats to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) were exchanged and shared.

The report was produced during the government transition based on conversations obtained from WhatsApp groups. The military were allocated in particular in the GSI (Institutional Security Office) of the Presidency during the management of General Augusto Heleno, one of Bolsonaro’s main allies.

Some of the military confirmed to the Sheet the trip to the camp, but they said they went without uniform and denied that they had demonstrated politically or supported anti-democratic and violent positions.

Two of them had their dismissal from the Presidency published in the Official Gazette this Thursday (19).

According to the dossier, several exchanges of messages, audios, videos and photos show that these soldiers embodied the anti-democratic acts in front of the Army HQ. At least one claimed violent intentions against PT members.

Since Bolsonaro’s defeat, the area in front of the Army’s headquarters has become a base for Bolsonaristas dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections. They asked for a coup by the Armed Forces to prevent Lula from taking office.

The camp housed Bolsonaro supporters involved in at least three violent episodes: the attempt to invade the PF building and depredations in the central region of Brasília, on December 12; installing the pump next to a fuel truck; and the attack on the buildings of the STF (Federal Supreme Court), Congress and the Planalto Palace on January 8.

After some attempts were blocked by the Army, the camp was cleared by the Military Police of the Federal District on January 9, by order of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF. The demobilization operation took place one day after the riot at Praça dos Três Poderes.

In one of the groups of soldiers, members of the personal security of the then President Bolsonaro appear, without uniform and usually with the shirt of the Brazilian soccer team, in photos at the HQ. They encouraged other colleagues to come after hours with their families to the site.

The dossier also mentions a short video posted in a message group in which an image of Lula giving a speech is placed in the crosshairs of an elite sniper, suggesting that the president was shot down by a sniper on January 1, the date of his inauguration.

One of the photos posted in the groups shows Major Alexandre Nunes, named as being from the Army, Navy Sergeant Márcio Valverde and a person identified as Sergeant Azevedo, from the Air Force.

About Nunes, the dossier points out the existence of reports about his performance with diplomatic representatives. He would have told these people that Lula would not go up the ramp.

Valverde, in turn, was from presidential security and was appointed in 2020 as an assistant at the GSI.

Another that appears is Ronaldo Ribeiro Travasso. The Navy man was at the GSI when he attended the demonstrations at the camp. How did he reveal Sheethe said he would shoot his own brother in the head if he made the L — gesture characteristic of Lula voters.

From the Navy, the others mentioned in the document are Estevão Soares, Thiago Cardoso, Marcos Chiele and Fernando Carneiro Filho.

“I’m not saying this as a joke, no, it’s serious. Whoever makes the L is a terrorist. He really has to die, or change or die, because there’s no way for a person like that”, says Travasso in response to a message posted and then deleted by Stephen.

This Thursday, the Official Gazette brought the dismissal of Chiele and Valverde.

Military denies support for anti-democratic movements

The 1st Navy Sergeant Thiago Cardoso stated that he is a Christian, that as a citizen he is even critical of former President Bolsonaro and that he did not participate in a political or anti-democratic demonstration. He claims to have participated in prayers for the country at vigils held in front of the barracks.

“I was not in uniform and at no time did I speak out or demonstrate. I was like a Christian citizen who defends values ​​and rights to say prayers and talk to people. I do not agree with any illegality and would never agree with any criminal practice. In this regard, I can speak on behalf of most of the people I knew were there,” he said.

According to Cardoso —who claimed to have asked in November to leave the position he held at the Alvorada Palace, which was carried out this week—, the vast majority of people in the camp were not preaching a coup.

“There was no leadership or anyone with plans to do anything. I realized that people there were anxious for information on their cell phones that would legitimize the participation of the Armed Forces in the defense of democracy, because they did not believe in the fairness of the electoral process.”

Navy serviceman Estevão Soares said he left the WhatsApp group as soon as he realized the misuse of purpose and because he did not agree with the content of some posts.

“In no way do I agree or defend any anti-democratic or violent stance. I stand by the discretion, principle and unblemished and disciplined conduct that I have always had as a Christian and in compliance with military prerogatives,” he said.

Soares said that he was most likely at the camp once in early November, at the request of his wife and children and without any political motivation. According to him, the objective was just to participate in a prayer group and walk around Praça dos Cristais, the area where the camp was set up.

Travassos did not appear. In previous contact, he said that he would not comment on his lines and that he did not know if it was himself in the audios. THE Sheet was unable to contact the others mentioned.

The Navy said it had not been notified about servers arrested for involvement in anti-democratic acts and generically pointed to the possibility of applying sanctions for misconduct.

“In this sense, the measures are taken according to the specific case, after conclusion of any disciplinary administrative process, with the exercise of full defense and contradictory, for, if applicable, application of relevant sanctions”, he said.

Army, Press Secretary of the Presidency and Ministry of Defense did not respond. The Air Force said that it could only manifest itself if there was the full name of the soldier.