Workers' Party members leave commission chaired by Feliciano.

Iolando Lourenço*
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia - PT deputies who are members of the Human Rights and Minorities Commission (CDHM) of the Chamber of Deputies decided today (17) to withdraw from the committee as a protest against the presidency of deputy Pastor Marco Feliciano (PSC-SP). The action is also an attempt to make the work of the CDHM unfeasible, as they believe there was no legitimacy in the election of the current president.

The PT's full members on the committee are federal deputies Padre Tom (RO), Erika Kokay (DF), Domingos Dutra (MA), and Nilmário Miranda (MG). According to Padre Tom, the four full members and an equal number of alternates will inform the leader of the caucus, Deputy José Guimarães (CE), today that they will no longer participate in the CDHM. They will also ask the leader not to nominate other deputies for their seats.

"The committee is unviable for this year. It made no sense to participate in the meetings, and I don't want to create any more controversy because this guy is an artist and is taking advantage of the situation for personal gain," said Congressman Padre Tom. He also criticized the mobilization of the House security at all committee meetings. "You can't paralyze the House because of one parliamentarian," he complained.

"We are leaving so as not to legitimize the pastor's actions. We do not recognize his election," added Congressman Nilmário Miranda, former president of the committee.

Deputies Chico Alencar (RJ) and Jean Wyllys (RJ) from the PSOL party, and Luiza Erundina (SP) from the PSB party had already left the commission. These deputies, along with the PT members on the commission, are now working to create the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Human Rights. This front will operate in parallel to the Human Rights Commission.

*Ivan Richard contributed to this report.

Edited by: Davi Oliveira