Neglected protocol may prove government oversight on January 8

Opposition members of the Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) on January 8 are eagerly awaiting the disclosure of a classified government document, which they consider crucial to proving the thesis that there was an intentional failure of federal forces in their role to protect the buildings of Praça dos Três Poderes: the “shield plan”.

In addition to the reports and alerts about the invasions made by the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), already delivered to the CPMI, parliamentarians demand that the Institutional Security Office (GSI) of the Presidency send the Plan of Operations Shield, adopted to protect the Planalto Palace of violent demonstrations. They allege that the protocol was not used in the established manner, favoring the action of vandals. This plan is secret and, if it becomes public and is compared with the events recorded on January 8, it could show possible omission by the government.

The importance of the document increased after the Army informed the CPMI that its troops present on January 8 were not mobilized in advance by the GSI, as determined by the established protocol.

In response to a request from Senator Sérgio Moro (União Brasil-PR), General Francisco Montenegro Junior confirmed that the failure of the Presidency body “prevented the prior deployment of the adoption of a preventive security device”. He reported that it was only at 11:54 am on January 8 that there was a verbal request to the Planalto Military Command (CMP) to immediately send a riot squad with 30 soldiers.

Throughout Sunday, a total of 350 military personnel were employed, with 198 arriving at the Palace around 12:30 pm, about half an hour after being requested. And only at 4:50 pm, at the height of depredation in public buildings, another 85 military personnel from the Administration and Support Base of the Planalto Military Command were also moved to the location. At 5:50 pm, another 40 soldiers from the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment acted to contain the demonstrators and vacate the Palace. All orders were, according to General Monteiro Júnior, transmitted to the commanders of these military organizations.

Pressure grows to anticipate the testimony of Gonçalves Dias

In view of the revelations, Sérgio Moro submitted an extra request to the CPMI to hear General Marco Gonçalves Dias, former minister-in-chief of the GSI, as soon as possible, as he considered him a key player in clarifying what happened, as well as the procedures adopted. regarding the depredation of the Planalto Palace.

The senator argued that, as divulged by the press and acknowledged by the former head of the GSI himself in testimony to the CPI of the District Chamber, the general ordered Abin to withdraw 11 intelligence alerts made since January 6 that were registered in the reports sent to the Congressional Joint Intelligence Committee, later shared with the CPMI.

In addition, Moro considers insufficient explanations about the leaked images from the palace cameras that show Dias without reaction among the invaders, with even a collaborative attitude. “The need to take his statement is indisputable,” he said.

After being excluded by the government supporters from the initial list of witnesses, Gonçalves Dias was later included, by agreement, after the negative repercussions of a possible attempt to shield the general and the government from the CPMI.

According to the rapporteur’s work plan, senator Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA), he should be one of the last to be heard. “Meanwhile, the policeman who was injured to prevent invasions remains in prison, and the general who served water to the invaders is free”, protested deputy André Fernandes (PL-CE).

The government denied at least eight requests for access to the images of the internal circuit of the Palácio do Planalto on January 8th. After they were leaked by the press, the government withdrew the secrecy, pressed for the departure of Minister Gonçalves Dias, which took place on the same day, April 19, and even started to support the creation of the CPMI. “These images were censored by President Lula, in a clear sign that the truth was being hidden from the people”, said Deputy Delegate Paulo Bilynskyj (PL-SP).

PM commander confirms omission of intrusion alerts

Summoned by the Chamber’s Public Security Commission, the current head of the GSI, Marcos Antonio Amaro dos Santos, said in a statement at the end of May that there was no facilitation by his predecessor to invaders. He delivered to the deputies the protocol of the Secretariat of Public Security of the Federal District, drawn up on January 6. Santos said that the document was drawn up without the assistance of the GSI and that the information passed on by the DF’s secretariat itself indicated a low risk assessment of invasions.

The opposition distrusts this official statement and points to intentional flaws in the exchange of messages between the intelligence system, representatives of the responsible bodies and the respective commanders of tactical groups.

Last Monday (26), during a statement to the CPMI, Colonel Jorge Eduardo Naime, former head of the Department of Operations (DOP) of the Military Police of the Federal District, who is under arrest accused of omission in the invasions, stated that Abin alerted intelligence agencies about the attacks only at 10 am on January 8. The invasion began shortly before 3 pm.

However, according to Naime, the DOP did not have access to the previous alerts. On Saturday (7), said the policeman, Abin began to pass on information via WhatsApp about the arrival of dozens of buses and the speeches inside the camps in front of the Army headquarters indicating invasion of public buildings. The policeman stated that the failure in intelligence made it impossible to mobilize PM personnel to secure federal buildings.

“The PM failed because it underestimated the planning, because the information that was given on Friday was different from the information that we had on Sunday at 10 am. And they didn’t make it to the DOP”, she underlined.

Naime blamed General Gustavo Henrique Dutra de Menezes, former head of the Planalto Military Command, for the demobilization of the troops. “He even said they brought in too many soldiers,” he said.

Naime also informed of the existence of another previous plan that was equally inoperative on January 8th. Created in 2017, the Integrated Tactical Protocol (PrTI) involves the bodies that make up the district and federal security forces, including GSI and Abin, to ensure peace in demonstrations.

Senator Espiridião Amin (PP-SC) highlighted that the disconnection of messages already revealed by Abin documents is even greater, 48 hours earlier. “What finally happened to Plano Escudo do Planalto? Where is the protocol?”, teased the parliamentarian.

Government shows apprehension with the management of GSI activities

Deputy Delegado Ramagem (PL-RJ), who was director general of Abin in the government of Jair Bolsonaro, submitted a request to the CMPI for the GSI to share with the commission the “Plano Escudo”, prepared by the defense of the Planalto Palace, with details on the procedures to be adopted between Lula’s inauguration, from January 1st to 9th, as well as any changes made.

“Examination of the document will enable the investigation by the collegiate to fully achieve its objectives, in order to make possible the civil or criminal responsibility of the offenders”, he said.

Meanwhile, government supporters invest in the thesis of a premeditated coup d’état attempt led by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), related to episodes after the election.

Attention has also been drawn to the government’s moves since January 8 to change the structure and links of the GSI, having been considered until its extinction and the creation of a National Guard, a permanent institution to protect buildings belonging to the three powers. Abin was transferred from the GSI to the Civil House, and the command of the protection service of the President of the Republic is under dispute between the Army and the Federal Police.