Bolsonaro officially awarded the Soldier of Silence medal to a parallel intelligence service.

Bolsonaro, the "shadowsman," a worshipper of death, coups, and bizarre, poorly explained situations, dreamed like no other of reassembling the Intelligence "apparatus" along the lines of the dictatorial system he so admires. And so much so that on August 31, 2019, he created the medal: "Soldier of Silence"...to reward those who provided parallel intelligence services, under the aegis and with the consent, yes, of the Brazilian Army. The same Army that should be focused on defending our borders and national sovereignty. Once again, bowing to the whims of the delusional head of state, the Army agreed to "officialize" the "neo-spying," since officially the activity was assigned to the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), which, in turn, housed the Institutional Security Office (GSI), also responsible for the activity. The picturesque side of the story – if there is one – is that, according to the regulations and criteria stipulated to be eligible for the decoration, Bolsonaro would be ineligible to receive the award.

The captain was so confident that the "repression" would be carried out by his own hand that, during his government, he ordered the surveillance, under the umbrella of the antiquated – and thankfully repealed – National Security Law, of more than 600 professors, journalists, academics, and prominent figures of the national intelligentsia, such as the anthropologist Luiz Eduardo Soares. Once discovered, he didn't hesitate. He instituted the "Service" to reward the "intelligent" group.

On September 12, 2022, the Attorney General of Military Justice, Antônio Pereira Duarte, was one of those honored.Attorney General awarded the Soldier of Silence Medal | MPM), in a ceremony attended by General Heleno and journalist Alexandre Garcia.

Who is entitled to receive it and what are the criteria:

Ministry of Defense

BRAZILIAN ARMY

COMMANDER'S OFFICE

Decree No. 764, of August 3, 2020

It provides for the Soldier of Silence Medal.

(EB10-N-10.001).

The Commander of the Army, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Article 4 of Law

Complementary Law No. 97, of June 9, 1999, and item XIV of article 20 of the Regimental Structure of the Army Command, approved by Decree No. 5.751, of April 12, 2006, considering the proposals of the Army Intelligence Center (CIE) and the Army General Secretariat (SGEx), resolves:

Article 1. The Soldier of Silence Medal, established by Army Commander's Order No. 1.794 of October 31, 2019, shall be governed by the provisions of this Order.

Article 2. The Soldier of Silence Medal is intended to reward members of the Army.

Brazilian citizens, whether active or retired, who have rendered notable services to the Army Intelligence System (SIEx) or have distinguished themselves in the exercise of military intelligence activities.

Article 3. The Regulations Governing the Soldier of Silence Medal (EB10-N-10.001) are hereby approved and attached hereto.

Article 4. It is hereby determined that the General Secretariat of the Army and the Army Intelligence Center shall adopt, within their respective areas of competence, the necessary measures arising from this decision.

Article 5. Decree No. 1.794, of October 31, 2019, is hereby revoked.

Art. 6 This Ordinance enters into force on the date of its publication.

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Article 1. These rules aim to establish procedures for awarding the Soldier of Silence Medal, created by Ordinance No. 1.794, of October 31, 2019.

Article 3. The Soldier of Silence Medal may be awarded to members of the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian Air Force, and the Auxiliary Forces, as well as to civilians and foreigners, who have rendered significant services to the SIEx (Brazilian Army Information Service) and who have become deserving of recognition from the Army.

Article 4. The aforementioned medal may also be awarded posthumously, under the conditions mentioned above.

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§ 1 When the recipient is a civilian, a member of the other Armed Forces, a member of the Auxiliary Forces, or a foreigner, the medal will be awarded in recognition of the relevant services rendered to the SIEx (Brazilian Army Information System), having become deserving of recognition from the Brazilian Army; in this case, it must be observed whether the nominee meets, where applicable, the aspects mentioned in the heading of this article.

§ 2 The Soldier of Silence Medal may be awarded to career military personnel belonging to the SIEx, regardless of length of service, who die as a result of an accident or illness contracted in the performance of their duties or in a war operation, duly proven in an investigation, inquiry or health certificate of origin, as a posthumous tribute, with the award being presented to a person designated by the family.

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Article 10. The medal will be presented by the Head of the CIE or by the commander, chief, or director of the military unit where the recipient serves, at military ceremonies commemorating the Anniversary of the CIE or Intelligence Professional Day, in that order of priority. If it is impossible to present the medal on those dates, it may be presented at other ceremonies stipulated in the Regulations of Honors.

Honors and Signs of Respect (R2).

§ 1 The Army Commander will present the medal to the general officers of the highest rank in the Armed Forces. If the recipient is not in the Brasília Garrison, the Army Commander may designate a general officer to proceed with the awarding of the medal in the Garrison where the recipient is located. 

§ 2 The commander, chief or director of a military unit will receive the medal from the highest authority of the immediately superior echelon to which he/she is subordinate.

§ 3 The Head of the CIE will present the medal to retired Army personnel, members of the Brazilian Navy and Air Force, members of the Auxiliary Forces, members of Friendly Nations, and civilians, within the scope of the 11th Military Region.

§ 4 The medals of retired military personnel from other Military Regions will be forwarded by the CIE to the corresponding Area Military Commands, so that the delivery can be arranged at a military ceremony.

§ 5 The Garrison Commander may hold a single ceremony for all military personnel awarded the medal.

Article 11. In the event of the death of the military member to be awarded the medal, the medal will be presented to the spouse, or, in their absence, to the blood heirs, respecting the line of succession.

Sole paragraph. In the case of the main clause of this article, the decoration will not be imposed on the person designated by the family to receive it, but will only be presented.

CHAPTER VI

ON THE LOSS OF THE RIGHT TO USE

Article 12. The right to wear the medal will be forfeited, and the recipient will be removed from the list of awardees:

I - a member of the military who has lost their nationality;

II - any military or civilian who has committed acts that undermine military honor, dignity, and morality of their institution or society, provided that such acts are ascertained in a Military Police Inquiry (IPM), investigation, or other instruments;

III - a member of the military sentenced to retirement as provided for in the Military Penal Code (CPM), by a final and unappealable judgment;

IV - an officer declared unworthy of or incompatible with the officer rank, by decision of the Superior Military Court;

V - a licensed or excluded square for disciplinary reasons;

VI - any member of the military or civilian who has been convicted by the courts, in any jurisdiction, of a crime against national integrity or sovereignty, or an attack against the public treasury, institutions, and Brazilian society;

VII - Military personnel who have committed personal acts that invalidate the reasons for awarding this medal or who have been prohibited from wearing a uniform at the discretion of the Army Commander.

Article 13. The process for revoking the medal will be initiated by the military unit to which the soldier is attached, as soon as the soldier has incurred in any of the cases specified in article 13.

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