PF tells CPI that DF reported that 8/1 would be peaceful – 06/29/2023 – Politics

The PF (Federal Police) stated to the CPI on January 8 that, the day before the attack on the three Powers, the Government of the Federal District reported that there would be a “simple demonstration” of a “peaceful nature”.

According to the PF, the information was given by the number two of the Secretariat of Public Security, Fernando de Souza Oliveira, and by the colonel of the Military Police of the DF Cíntia Queiroz during a meeting on January 7th.

The Federal Police says that, during the meeting, the general director of the corporation, Andrei Passos, “explained concern” with “the displacement of people to Brasília” with the objective of “occupying the Esplanada dos Ministérios and contesting the result of the electoral ballot boxes “.

The PF claims that the director-general highlighted the “high degree of threat to security”, asked for the isolation of the Esplanada dos Ministérios and said that the movement was a criminal act in itself because it threatened democracy.

The PF says that the Public Security Secretariat of the DF responded that it was aware and prepared, and expressed “a different understanding”, “alleging that it would be a simple demonstration of a peaceful nature”.

The secretary’s position on the peaceful character that the demonstrations would have was expressed even after the intelligence sector of the folder identified, on the eve of the meeting, coup intentions by the radical Bolsonarists who arrived in Brasília.

On January 6, intelligence sent a document to the then secretary, Anderson Torres, and to the body responsible for planning operational activities in the area.

“The disclosures are alarming, given the assertion that the ‘seizure of power’ would occur, mainly, with the invasion of the National Congress”, says an excerpt from the report.

The document highlights that the protesters proposed not only the invasion of Congress, but the occupation of “public bodies that represent the Three Powers”, which indicates that authorities were also aware of the threat to the Planalto Palace and the STF (Federal Supreme Court).

The text also said that there was a forecast of “participation of thousands of people and the arrival of caravans”, despite the fact that the camp in front of the Army headquarters was in the process of increasing demobilization.

After the meeting with the Public Security Secretariat of the DF, the PF reported to the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino (PSB), the “critical scenario that was presented”, and suggested the use of the National Public Security Force.

Dino then authorizes the use of the National Force and communicates the governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), at 8 pm on January 7th. The governor only asked for the troops to be reinforced, however, on the afternoon of the 8th, when public buildings had already been taken over by the coup leaders.

The Federal Police says that, since January 5, “it was evident on social networks” that people were going to Brasília “with the purpose of confronting the results of the electoral ballot boxes”.

“This movement was evident on social networks, being within the reach of anyone, therefore, technical intelligence knowledge is not necessary to identify the risk and the imminent threat”, says an excerpt from the PF letter.

In another meeting —held by the Secretariat of Public Security on January 6th without the participation of the PF—, Federal District authorities were already talking about the possibility of invading public buildings over the weekend.

Sought by the report, the Secretariat for Public Security of the Federal District said that it does not comment on ongoing investigations, and “that all the facts related to the operation on January 8, 2023 are in the process of being investigated”.

On January 8th, the demonstrators not only had free entry to the Esplanada dos Ministérios, but also approached the headquarters of the three Powers escorted by the Military Police of the Federal District.

The group gathered in front of the Army headquarters and walked for about 8 km to the buildings of the Planalto Palace, the Congress and the Supreme Court side by side with the PM.

Fernando de Souza Oliveira was in charge of the portfolio because the Secretary of Public Security, former Minister of Justice Anderson Torres, was on vacation in the United States.

Shortly before the invasion of the Planalto Palace, Oliveira repeated the information of “tranquility” to Ibaneis Rocha. The acting secretary also said that the portfolio had negotiated the trip of the coup leaders to the Esplanada dos Ministérios in an “organized” way.

In testimony to the CPI of the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District, he said that the Military Police did not follow the integrated action plan that had been drawn up by the Secretariat of Public Security and approved by Torres before leaving the country.

Colonel Cíntia, on the other hand, told the CPI that there was no failure in the planning of the actions, but in the execution – and blamed mainly the Military Police of the DF.

Since being exonerated by Governor Ibaneis Rocha, Souza Oliveira has returned to the Federal Police. Colonel Cíntia Queiroz remains in the position of Undersecretary for Integrated Operations of the Federal District.