Police Accused of Abuse in Brasília: Daily

By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A report published yesterday by the Brazilian government communications bureau, Agência Brasil, says that young people living on the streets of the Federal District have accused military police officers (PM) of physical and psychological abuse.

Of the 127 adolescents interviewed in the report, 47 percent said they had suffered some kind of violence. The Chamber of Deputies’ Commission for Human Rights and Minorities has begun investigations.

A video produced by the commission shows young people alleging abuse which ranges from humiliation to beatings.

A study into police violence against homeless people, funded by the Federal District Government’s Foundation for Research Support (FAP), indicates that some homeless adults had also reported sexual abuse.

The names of two officers have been sent to the Military Police Internal Correction Department.

Erica Kokay, Vice-President of the Human Rights Commission told Agência Brasil, “The important thing is to keep everything accurate.”

According to the report, Colonel Francisco Niño Carlos da Silva, the Federal District PM Inspector General, said that abuse by its members would not be tolerated and complaints will be rigorously investigated, not least to prevent the wrongful accusation of any officer.

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