Brazil: Lula Pens Letter Criticizing Army Intervention in Rio

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva penned a letter to the National Front of Mayors, or FNP, criticizing the military intervention and the state of Rio de Janeiro, as well as lamenting the end of the Provisional Contribution on Financial Transactions, or CPMF.

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Brazil “cannot launch its armed forces in badly planned adventures because their role is not that of the police, of urban security,” Lula wrote, referencing the military intervention in Rio de Janeiro. He stressed that soldiers cannot be removed from their "indispensable function of defending the homeland.”

The former head of state pointed out that more investment is needed in the intelligence sector and exchange of data and information between state police forces, as well as the need to expand border surveillance in order to curb the “suppliers of crime, such as drugs and firearms that reach Brazil.”

He stressed that it's “evident that the increase in violence is related to the economic crises and difficulties for youth to further their education and find jobs.”

The CPMF, popularly known as the check tax, was a tax imposed on all bank transactions made by corporate entities and private individuals between 1997 and 2007. Funds raised by the tax were dedicated towards the public health sector.

Lula said the discontinuation of the CPMF resulted in a “defeat for Brazil, city halls, and Brazilians who were left without these (financial) transfers for increased healthcare expenditures.”

Despite being convicted on alleged corruption charges and imprisoned since April 7, events that many legal experts and observers attribute to lawfare and a salacious mainstream media campaign, Lula has topped every 2018 electoral poll conducted by Vox Populi, Ibope, Datafolha, Data Poder 360, Instituto Parana, the National Confederation of Transportation/MDA and Ipsos.

Brazil's Supreme Court magistrates have until Thursday to rule on an appeal, which argues that his detention is unconstitutional. Brazil's constitution stipulates that nobody can be imprisoned until all of their legal resources to contest their conviction have been completely exhausted.