The sieve, the waterfall, and press censorship in Goiás.

A statement issued by the government of Marconi Perillo (PSDB) against the coverage by the newspaper O Popular and TV Anhanguera of the events plaguing Goiás is a manifesto against authoritarianism and intolerance. Instead of answering the population's questions, the gesture has raised new ones. After all, what is the government afraid of?

The government statement primarily criticizes:

1 – The headline and article from Sunday's edition of O Popular: “Institutional crisis shakes Goiás”.

2 – Coverage of the "Out with Marconi" demonstration by TV Anhanguera on Saturday (April 21).

The subtitle of Sunday's edition of the newspaper O Popular states: "Involvement of public officials with the gambling mafia puts public trust in jeopardy." It is clear that the Federal Police's Operation Monte Carlo revealed the involvement of organized crime in all spheres of power in Goiás: Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, and Public Prosecutor's Office.

It is abundantly clear that Goiás is going through a serious institutional crisis, and the government cannot avoid giving explanations. After all, those mentioned in the wiretapped phone conversations include the dismissal of the Governor's Chief of Staff, the State Attorney General, the president of the Department of Motor Vehicles (Detran), the Chief Administrative Prosecutor, not to mention the removal of the Civil Police Inspector General, and suspicions surrounding a judge of the Regional Labor Court (TRT), the Attorney General of Justice, a member of the Goiás State Court of Justice (TJ-GO), four federal deputies, 29 members of the military police, two federal delegates, and one from the Federal Highway Police.

Regarding TV Anhanguera's coverage of the "Out with Marconi" event, it's worth noting that on the previous Saturday (April 15th), the movement had brought 5,000 people to the Civic and Bandeirante squares, increasing the number of those who went to the Legislative Assembly to protest against the corruption allegations in Goiás to 6,000. Unlike Rede Globo, which reported on other anti-corruption marches across the country as acts related to the Mensalão trial, TV Anhanguera remained faithful to the movement that originated on social media, mainly Facebook, where more than 13,000 internet users posted support for the movement using the hashtag #ForaMarconi.

Intolerance

It must be stated clearly that the current government is intolerant of the press. Journalists, or anyone who expresses criticism of the pro-PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) way of governing, suffer virulent attacks on social media. Renato Dias (Rádio Terra), Vassil Oliveira and Filemon Pereira (Rádio Luz da Vida), Frederico Jotabê and Marcos Roberto (Tribuna do Planalto) were fired. The slightest independence, in any media outlet whatsoever, arouses the wrath of the ruler, who, like the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, shouts: "Off with their heads!" 

The challenge for this and any other government in the 21st century is not to persecute journalists, question the editorial line of newspapers, or wage wars on social media (Twitter and Facebook). Far beyond the foolish pretense of total control of information, what governments should pursue is transparency. The youth movement #ForaMarconi bears many similarities to the Indignados movement in Spain. On the other side of the Atlantic, unemployment fueled the young people's protests. In Brazil, and in Goiás in particular, what fuels the revolt is the feeling that organized crime has become so entrenched in institutions that significant pressure will be needed to carry out an ethical cleansing.

Reform

Brazil has long been experiencing a dichotomy. The booming economic sector contrasts sharply with the archaic methods of its politics. The downfall of Demóstenes Torres, who went from being a champion of moralism to a facilitator of illegal activities in the Senate, demonstrates the urgent need to discuss the process of campaign financing. The Federal Police have already proven that companies linked to the illegal gambling operator Carlos Augusto Ramos, known as Carlinhos Cachoeira, made donations to the campaigns of Governor Marconi Perillo (PSDB), Senator Demóstenes Torres, and Representatives Carlos Leréia (PSDB) and Sandes Júnior (PP). Investigations have also revealed a significant presence of individuals appointed through the Cachoeira scheme within the state's administrative machinery.

These are the lingering doubts that fuel the work of journalists and the curiosity of the average citizen, whether they are internet users or not. It is not the resurrection of the ill-fated AI-5 that will change the opinion of the media and voters in Goiás. 

Link to the article "Institutional Crisis Shakes Goiás".

Government statement to O Popular.

Government statement to TV Anhanguera.

Editor's note (OJC). 

Marcus Vinicius is a journalist and writes on the blog: www.marcusvinicius.blog.br