The kidnapping of babies was one of the perverse faces of the dictatorship.

By Renato Dias, dDM Magazine Editorial Team 

The civil-military dictatorship in Brazil, established on April 1st and 2nd, 1964, like that in Argentina [1976-1983], kidnapped babies and abducted children of political dissidents to hand them over to the military and even civilians. This explosive accusation comes from journalist Eduardo Reina. During the Araguaia Guerrilla War alone, a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1975 in the states of Goiás (now Tocantins), Maranhão, and Pará, organized by the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), inspired by the ideas of Mao Zedong, leader of the socialist revolution in China on October 1st, 1949, there was a tragic toll of 11 victims. Two of them were children of guerrillas, reports the researcher of the "years of lead." Those were dark times, both in Brazil and in Latin America. The total number of cases uncovered to date is 19, with two more investigations underway. A State Policy, he defines it. Of a State of Terror, he observes, indignantly. The secret within the secret of the Brazilian civil-military dictatorship, summarizes the 55-year-old writer.

Read the full interview:

Argentina reports the existence of 500 babies kidnapped during the country's civil-military dictatorship - 1976-1984. What are the numbers in Brazil - 1964-1985?

Eduardo Reina - So far I have been able to uncover 19 cases of kidnapping and appropriation of children of those who opposed the civilian and military regime [1964-1985]. There are other cases that I have come across in the last two weeks and that still need to be investigated.

How many babies were born during the Araguaia Guerrilla War [1966-1975]?

Eduardo Reina - There are 11 cases related to the Araguaia Guerrilla. Six are children of peasants, who were teenagers. Two are children of guerrillas, and three others were kidnapped but have no direct connection to the guerrillas. There is the case of Juracy, kidnapped by mistake [they thought he was the son of the guerrilla leader Osvaldão], and Miracy, Juracy's brother. There is also the kidnapping of Yeda, Giovani's half-sister – Giovani was indeed Osvaldão's son with a local woman.

Are there children of urban guerrillas on the list?

Eduardo Reina - The list of 19 does not include any children of urban guerrillas. But there is the case of Iracema, from Pernambuco, whose mother was a member of the PCB (Brazilian Communist Party). They lived in Recife.

Like torture, was it a state policy?

Eduardo Reina - Yes, it was a State Policy. A State of Terror. The kidnapping of the children of opposition members was the secret within the secret of the Brazilian civil-military dictatorship. Kidnapping victims were spoils of war in the hands of the military. They had top priority for capture.

Did Humberto Castello Branco, Arthur da Costa e Silva, the Military Junta, Emílio Garrastazu Médici, Ernesto Geisel, and João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo know about the operations?

Eduardo Reina - From what I've read in military books and interviews with some of the military presidents, they must have been aware of these operations. The entire chain of command knew what was being done.

Is there documentary evidence of the kidnappings?

Eduardo Reina - There are documents from some of the victims that show the crime. For example, Juracy Bezerra de Oliveira was taken from Araguaia to Fortaleza. There, Lieutenant Antônio Essílio registered him as his legitimate son. But the birth certificate shows the name of Juracy's biological mother, Maria Bezerra de Oliveira. Juracy's baptismal certificate, from a church in the Araguaia region, records the names of both his biological mother and biological father. Juracy himself tells his story, having been kidnapped by mistake. Rosângela Serra Paraná's birth certificate points to irregularities from the date of birth to the supposed place of birth. The document cites the place of birth as Rua Marques de Abrantes, 160, Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, in 1963. But the place where her birth supposedly occurred has belonged to Rioprevidência since 1958. It has nothing to do with the appropriating family. As in many cases in Argentina, Rosângela's appropriating mother could not have children. Her father was a military man, from an entire family of military personnel. The appropriating father provided services to Ernesto Geisel.

How did you find the sources?

Eduardo Reina - A long and arduous search. Two decades of research. It intensified from 2015 onwards. After 2016, I managed to gain access to the victims and their families.

Were the babies adopted by military personnel or civilians living near the barracks?

Eduardo Reina Both cases.

What is the psychological reaction of the victims after discovering their true identities?

Eduardo Reina – It's very complicated. These people are still very afraid of reprisals, of possible consequences. They suffer greatly from the memories. Rosângela was very badly mistreated by her appropriating family. Iracema has physical scars from the torture she suffered at the DOI-CODI in Recife, when she was imprisoned with her mother. Juracy has scars on his left hand, with three atrophied fingers due to the torture he suffered when he was kidnapped. Lia Cecília adores the family that adopted her. Lia is the daughter of Antônio Teodoro de Castro, Raul, a guerrilla fighter in Araguaia. She was taken to an orphanage in Belém, which belonged to an Air Force officer. She was adopted by a couple who ran the place. Lia adores her adoptive parents, but she is trying to find out who her biological mother was.

Has the link been re-established with your biological family?

Eduardo Reina - Juracy met his mother when he was 20 years old. He returned from Fortaleza to Araguaia. He and his mother, Maria Bezerra de Oliveira, went to look for his brother Miracy, who was taken to Natal by Sergeant Lima of the Army. Maria died in 2013 or 2014, run over in São Geraldo do Araguaia. Rosângela is desperately searching for her biological mother. Antônio Viana da Conceição, Giovani's half-brother, believes he will no longer be able to find Giovani and his sister Yeda.

Are there any cases in Goiás?

Eduardo Reina - No. Not in Goiás.

Are the numbers underestimated?

Eduardo Reina - I believe that the number of kidnapping victims may be greater than what is reported in 'Endless Captivity' (19). I have already been approached by people who tell their stories. Their tragic stories. Which now need to be investigated. There are more than 19 cases, which may or may not be included in this list.

Jair Messias Bolsonaro has ordered the commemoration of the 1964 Civil-Military coup d'état. What is the connection between this resolution from the Presidential Palace and the construction of Memory, Truth, and Justice?

Eduardo Reina - I expected attitudes like this. For someone who makes references to a torturer like Carlos Brilhante Ustra, this was to be expected. Certainly, the work of building Memory, Truth, and Justice will face more obstacles from now on. But the work will continue, in the name of those who remained invisible, hidden, during all this time. 

Profile

Full name - Eduardo Reina

Age - 55 years

Training - Journalist

Books already published -  Author of the novel "Depois da Rua Tutoia" (After Tutoia Street), released in April 2016; and of the book of crime short stories "No Gravador" (On the Recorder), released in 2003. Contributor to the books "O Conto Brasileiro Hoje" (Brazilian Short Story Today), Volume 5, 2007, and "Contos e Casos Populares" (Popular Tales and Stories) [with an introduction by Paulo Freire], 1984. He also worked as a ghostwriter on a biographical book in recent years.