NGOs reject control measures modeled after the military regime.
43 Non-Governmental Organizations sent a letter to the Minister of the Government Secretariat, General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, demanding the rectification of Provisional Measure 870/2019 from the Bolsonaro government, which eliminates the autonomy of NGOs; according to the MP, the government would "monitor" the organizations, in the spirit of what was done during the military dictatorship; the leaders of the country's NGOs are "deeply concerned about the measure" and warned the general that "freedom in the exercise of their activities is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution."
247 - 43 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) sent a letter to the Minister of the Government Secretariat, General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, demanding the rectification of Provisional Measure (MP) 870/2019, published by the government, which includes a provision for the monitoring of NGOs. According to the text of the MP, the ministry will have, among other responsibilities, "to supervise, coordinate, monitor and follow up on the activities and actions of international organizations and non-governmental organizations in the national territory". For activists, the measure will represent an attack on the constitutional right to freedom of association, representation, organization and action of citizens.
In a letter sent to the general, activists and coordinators of NGOs say they are "deeply concerned about the measure" and reiterate that "the existence of a plural, active and autonomous civil society is essential for the quality of democracy."
"Guaranteeing these freedoms enshrined in the Federal Constitution is what allows for the organization of the most varied sectors of society, as well as the defense of rights and legitimate interests in a pluralistic democracy. Preserving the autonomy of non-governmental organizations is, therefore, fundamental for the development of an open and effectively democratic society," the document emphasizes.
The NGO coordinators also state that "the Provisional Measure cannot interfere with the activities of civil society organizations, at the risk of violating fundamental constitutional principles of democracy" and that "bodies such as the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Federal Revenue Service, the Courts of Auditors and, lastly, the Judiciary" already regulate and oversee these entities.
Finally, the organizations request a meeting with Santos Cruz and demand that the "MP be rectified".
Bolsonaro has always criticized NGOs.
Jair Bolsonaro is a critic of NGOs and has publicly expressed his opinion on several occasions. He has accused NGOs of exploiting and manipulating indigenous and quilombola communities, but without presenting evidence, and has also stated that "there will be no more money for shady NGOs," without specifying what criteria will be used to verify the organizations' integrity.