People from Alagoas are found in undignified conditions.
Thirty-eight boys aged between 13 and 21 were found in subhuman conditions in Rio de Janeiro; they were taken there under the expectation of trying out for soccer; the discovery was made following an anonymous tip; the person responsible for the irregularities is Alan Nunes Silva (PRTB), a candidate for state representative in Alagoas, who left Rio two weeks ago after testifying at the Public Prosecutor's Office; each boy paid R$ 550 to the accused for bus travel costs.
Alagoas247 Thirty-eight boys aged 13 to 21 were brought from the interior of Alagoas and the outskirts of Maceió 50 days ago, believing the false promise that they would participate in trials to play football for Vasco and Fluminense.
Following an anonymous complaint, the State Secretariat for Human Rights discovered that the boys were being subjected to undignified conditions in a rented house in Guapimirim, in the Baixada Fluminense region, violating several articles of the Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA).
Without formal parental permission to be in Rio, they shared a single bathroom and were responsible for cleaning the house and doing the laundry. The Public Prosecutor's Office filed a public civil action, and the group returns to Alagoas this week. In their baggage, their shattered dreams.
"Alan messed with my dream and the boys' dreams. I'm not even sleeping properly," one of the boys said.
The person responsible for bringing them is Alan Nunes Silva (PRTB), a candidate for state representative in Alagoas, who left Rio two weeks ago after testifying at the Public Prosecutor's Office, and claims to be the director of the Gool de Placa project, which would bring underprivileged boys from the Northeast to Rio for trials. Each boy paid R$ 550 to the accused for the costs of the bus trip to Rio.
Vasco and Fluminense deny knowing Alan, who also promised eight boys a contract with a team in Belgium. The supposed trip would be in November. However, when questioned by the Public Prosecutor's Office, Alan couldn't say the name of the team or any possible contact in the European country. Nor did he know that the Belgian currency is the euro or that one of the languages spoken is French. Alan told the boys that he couldn't specify the team because it would be "a complicated name".
"I sent copies of the lawsuit to the Federal Prosecutor's Office and the Labor Prosecutor's Office so that they can analyze whether human trafficking and child labor occurred, respectively. How can there be a trip scheduled to Belgium if they don't even have passports?", explained prosecutor Soraia Salles, who is responsible for the lawsuit.
Daily work
There is no TV on the premises, and everyone sleeps on thin mattresses. The teenagers are under the care of Giédria Ferreira, 36, who has worked for Alan for two months, and Edilene Rocha, 32, the mother of one of the boys. The boys are responsible for tidying and cleaning, following a daily work schedule. If they refuse, they are threatened with being sent back to Alagoas.
"I set discipline. They're afraid. I demand respect. I'm very affectionate, but there's a time for discipline. The parents knew they were coming to help us with our homework. No one can say 'my father didn't know about this'," said Giédria.
The Human Rights Secretariat disagreed:
"The boys are out of school, without decent accommodations. It's exploitation of vulnerability," lamented Monalyza Alves, from Casa de Direitos, an agency within the secretariat.
Boy treated like an idol in Alagoas
One of the young men deceived by Alan with the promise of playing in Belgium was already being treated as an idol in his hometown in the interior of Alagoas. Excited, the boy gave live interviews to the town's radio station; the town has fewer than 30 inhabitants.
"Everyone in my city is very happy with this news. Before traveling to Belgium, I want to go visit everyone there. I think I'll be greeted with a party," the boy said.
The Public Prosecutor's Office identified at least three violations of the Statute of Children and Adolescents. First, the lack of access to education, since only five boys are enrolled in the public school system. Second, the precarious access to healthcare, as the boys reported difficulty in obtaining medical attention when one of them became ill. Finally, the lack of family interaction: they have been away from home for almost two months.
It is still unclear what benefit Alan would have gained from deceiving the boys. He selected them at events in the interior of the state. The bus trip to Rio would be partially paid for by contributions from the parents, who agreed to the boys' trip. Almost all the families have already been contacted by the Public Prosecutor's Office and confirmed this, but no power of attorney authorizing Alan to be with the boys has been presented. Of the total, 30 are under 18 years old. Three of the adults returned to the Northeast two weeks ago with Alan.
The return of the remaining children will be paid for by the Guapimirim City Hall and the state government, which are defendants in the lawsuit filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The house where the boys are staying is guarded by a police car. Psychologists and social workers from the Guapimirim City Hall and the state have been talking to the group. Some cry every day. At the house, they say the owner prevents the use of the soccer field so that the grass doesn't wear out. The only ball was taken away with Alan. The one in the photo above was taken by the EXTRA team.
The defendant's version
On social media, Alan wrote: "I am writing to ask for the support of the athletes' parents, sports secretaries, mayors, and all the people of Alagoas to support us in this fight. Due to the accusation of child trafficking made against me, the public prosecutor of Guapimirim – RJ is fighting fiercely to have the boys I took to Rio de Janeiro returned to Alagoas. She alleges that the parents allowed themselves to be influenced by a plate of food. You, residents of the cities of Pilar, Coqueiro Seco, Marechal, Jequiá da Praia, Feira Grande, São Sebastião, Craíbas, Girau do Pociano, Maceió, Maribondo, and Campo Alegre, know that these boys are not street children; they have families, they have capable people by their side, they believed in my work and allowed their children to try to dream. A baseless accusation by clowns cannot end the dreams of your children, and mine as well. I guarantee one thing: your children will not return." If the public prosecutor of Guapimirim forces the boys to return, I, Alan Nunes Silva, with the parents' authorization, will take them back and seek media attention to make the facts public. When we work for the good of others, we cannot be cowardly. I told the public prosecutor and judge of the Guapimirim district that I would not take the boys back, not disrespecting them, but we live in a free country where we can choose where we live. It's easier than persecuting us. The public prosecutor's office could help us enroll these boys who are out of school, not because we don't want to enroll them, but because of a lack of vacancies in the schools of the municipality of Guapimirim. I ask for the support of Alagoas, Northeastern, and Brazilian families, and I ask you to share, comment, and make this public because Northeasterners are also people, they have the right to dream. And we will continue dreaming. Why are there so many young people on drugs in Guapimirim, and what about the public authorities? Mobilizing so many young people, who are the criminals we're bringing along? Is it a crime for a young person to have a dream? Or can't someone from the Northeast live in Rio de Janeiro? Please, someone answer me because I'm speechless.
ALAN NUNES SILVA – Indiguinado"
With gazetaweb.com