Academic community expresses outrage against abuses by the Federal Police.

247 Professor Henrique Finco published an account of the wake for the rector of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Luiz Carlos Cancellier, who committed suicide this Monday, the 2nd, and described a feeling of "outrage" from the academic community against what happened to Cancellier.

According to his colleague, those present decided to change the route of the funeral procession so that it will pass in front of the Federal Police headquarters in Santa Catarina today. "There is great indignation at what happened – and the consensus is that, in addition to fatally wounding our rector, the spectacular 'deaf ears operation' also aimed to harm the University," he said.

The rector was the target of Operation Deaf Ears, accused of irregularities that occurred during the administration prior to his. He was arrested on September 14th and released the following day, but was still prohibited from reassuming his position and entering UFSC. Four days before committing suicide, Cancellier published an article describing having experienced "humiliation and shame."

The rector's body was received late in the afternoon of Monday, the 2nd, with a round of applause at the institution. It lay in state in the rectorate hall that morning, on the Trindade campus, where it remained until 10 am. At 11 am, it was taken to the Garapuvu auditorium, in the UFSC Culture and Events Center, for a Solemn Funeral Session of the University Council, open to the public.

At the end of the ceremony, the coffin will be taken to the Jardim da Paz Cemetery in Florianópolis. At 16 pm, an ecumenical ceremony will take place, followed by the burial.

Check out the full account from the professor:

"I just arrived from the wake of Professor Luiz Carlos Cancellier de Olivo, the esteemed Rector of UFSC, where I have been a professor for 30 years."

There is great outrage over what happened – and the consensus is that, in addition to fatally wounding our Rector, the spectacular "deaf ear operation" also aimed to harm the University.

This is yet another example of the arbitrary actions committed in post-coup Brazil, where the burden of proof has shifted to the accused and where lynchings and vigilantes proliferate. Professor Cancellier, a person of modest means, was spectacularly arrested, humiliated, and publicly condemned without the right to a defense. To pay for a lawyer, the Rector was seeking a loan and trying to sell a motorcycle he owned.

At Professor Cancellier's funeral, a spontaneous movement formed to have the funeral procession, which will leave the UFSC Rectorate tomorrow, October 03, 2017, pass in front of the federal police and the federal court before heading to the cemetery.

Below I reproduce a statement from the Attorney General of the State of Santa Catarina and, further below, a note from the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) of Santa Catarina:

"The Attorney General of the State publicly expresses his deep sorrow for the passing of Professor Luiz Carlos Cancellier de Olivo, Rector of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, and extends his condolences to his family and friends."

The death of Cancellier saddens Santa Catarina with the loss of one of its most illustrious sons, a dignified man of modest means who devoted the last years of his rich professional career to the noble cause of university teaching, research, and outreach.

The tragedy of his departure occurred under appalling circumstances. Available information indicates that Cancellier suffered from abuse of authority, both in relation to the temporary arrest warrant issued against him and the imposition of his removal from office, which were the effective causes of the psychological damage that led him to take his own life.

Therefore, respecting due process, it is essential to determine the civil, criminal, and administrative responsibilities of the police and judicial authorities involved.

"May Professor Luiz Carlos Cancellier de Olivo's legacy, among the many other gifts he left us, also be that of having exposed to the country the perversity of a criminal justice system thirsty for light and fame, specialized in anticipating sentences and martyring innocents, under the false pretense of guaranteeing the effectiveness of its investigations."

John of the Steps Martins Neto
Attorney General of the State of SC

"The OAB SC (Brazilian Bar Association of Santa Catarina) publicly expresses its deep sorrow for the death of the rector of UFSC (Federal University of Santa Catarina), Luiz Carlos Cancelier, which occurred this Monday morning in Florianópolis, under tragic circumstances."

The time has come for Brazilian society and the legal community to seriously debate the spectacular and media-driven way in which provisional arrests are carried out in Brazil, even before those involved have been heard, let alone their defense.

Reputations painstakingly built over years of work and sacrifice can be completely destroyed in a single newspaper headline. For innocent people, the damage is irreparable. They are left with shame, pain, and a sense of injustice. The weight of these feelings can be unbearable.

To the family and friends of Professor Cancelier, our sincere condolences.

The OAB SC (Brazilian Bar Association of Santa Catarina) is in official mourning for three days.