A general in the trenches of democracy.
Honored with the Anhanguera Medal of Merit by the Legislative Assembly of Goiás, Division General Júlio César de Arruda, commander of Special Operations of the Brazilian Army, says that being awarded the commendation "is a responsibility, because whoever receives it must follow the example of Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, one of the greatest political leaders of Goiás, a man of character and with a democratic profile"; the honor was an initiative proposed by deputies Major Araújo (PRP), Adriana Accorsi (PT) and Helio Sousa (DEM), president of the Assembly; the general and the company he commands were responsible for the security of President Dilma Rousseff (PT) during her visit to Goiânia.
Marcus Vinícius, special correspondent for Goiás247- Major General Júlio César de Arruda, commander of Special Operations of the Brazilian Army, delivered a speech worthy of praise. Honored with the Anhanguera Medal of Merit from the Legislative Assembly of Goiás, the military officer offered an elegy to democracy. "Wearing this medal is an honor and a great responsibility. An honor because I am being honored in this historic Getulino Artiaga Plenary, where laws are discussed and drafted, and where initiatives that will bring more security, more democracy, and more development to all the people of Goiás will be debated. And a responsibility, because whoever receives it must follow the example of Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, one of the greatest political leaders of Goiás, a man of character, with a democratic profile," he emphasized.
The honor was an initiative of deputies Major Araújo (PRP), Adriana Accorsi (PT) and the president of the Assembly, Hélio Sousa (DEM). During President Dilma Rousseff's (PT) visit to Goiânia last Monday, the general and the company he leads were responsible for the event's security.
In addition to being a tribute, the event was also a farewell. General Júlio C. Arruda will be responsible for security at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016. The Special Operations Command is the body responsible for coordinating the Prevention and Combat of Terrorism and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense axis in major events (2014 World Cup, Paralympics and Rio 2016 Olympics).
In her speech, State Representative Adriana Accorsi thanked General Arruda for his services to Goiás and wished him luck in his new mission, which means a great deal for Brazil's image abroad.
Under the command of General Arruda will be deployed: Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces, state civil and military police, the Federal Police, and members of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN), who will provide security for athletes and foreign visitors during the Rio 2016 Olympics.
In 2002, the Army Command transferred the Special Operations Brigade from Rio to the center of the country, and Goiânia was the city chosen, according to General Arruda, for its infrastructure in highways, railways and airports, as well as its quality of life. "The families of our military personnel enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and the quality of life in this beautiful city. As someone from Mato Grosso, I already knew that living with the people of Goiânia would be a pleasure. Living this way is just too good to be true," he jokes.
The Brigade, located in the Santa Genoveva sector at the former 42nd BMtz, is a strategic deployment command, unique in all of Latin America for its special forces. Its soldiers operate on missions in Brazil, pacifying favelas in Rio, and abroad, stabilizing countries such as Haiti and Congo, among others.
During this 14-year period, the Special Operations Command received an increase in officers, warrant officers, and sergeants who settled in the capital. Approximately 350 recruits are trained annually in the unit, which is the only one in the Southern Cone to have a wind tunnel for paratrooper training. "We return to society a citizen-soldier, who fulfills their duty, upholds rights, and respects others in any situation. For everything that the men and women who serve in the Special Operations Command have done in these eleven years, I believe we are giving back and contributing to all the people of Goiás who welcomed us with open arms," he emphasizes.
In closing, General Arruda once again praised the role of the Goiano Legislative Assembly in the development of the State, thanked Representatives Major Araújo, Adriana Accorsi, and Hélio de Sousa for the tribute, and asked that "the Divine Eternal Father always bless and protect the people of Goiás."
Those who take to the streets to demand the return of the dictatorship, unaware that they are being used as pawns for shady, anti-democratic, and coup-plotting interests, should listen carefully to the words of General Arruda, a man who, since the age of 15, has dedicated his life to serving Brazil and Brazilians, and who, here in Goiás and on missions abroad, served the national flag with idealism, professing his faith in democracy and respect for others.