The Human Rights Commission of the Chamber of Deputies condemns the arrest of Boulos.
"The arrest for contempt is arbitrary. It violates International Human Rights Law and the Constitution of the Republic. We express our full solidarity with the struggle of the MTST and with the philosopher Guilherme Boulos. He is one of the most important social leaders in Brazil. His work in defending the human rights of people in situations of extreme social vulnerability is widely recognized," says the official statement; Boulos was arrested this morning during the eviction of a plot of land in São Paulo.
Brasilia 247 - The Human Rights and Minorities Commission of the Chamber of Deputies released a statement condemning the arrest of MTST leader Guilherme Boulos on Tuesday morning in São Paulo.
Below is the full statement:
Statement of Condemnation regarding the detention of Guilherme Boulos
Considering the information transmitted by the Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST), we express our repudiation of the detention of Guilherme Boulos.
Arrest for contempt is arbitrary. It violates International Human Rights Law and the Constitution of the Republic. The Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has stated that laws establishing this crime violate Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José, Costa Rica), which deals with freedom of thought and expression. The Superior Court of Justice itself has ruled that contempt is not a crime.
The occupation of urban and rural land to satisfy basic needs such as food and housing is not illegal. It is an implementation of Article 3 of the Constitution, which establishes as an objective of the Republic to build a free, just, and solidary society. It also seeks to fulfill the social function of property and the rights guaranteed in national and international legal norms.
Urban occupations should be addressed through public policy, not by the police. In the case of the Colonial Occupation, reports indicate that there were over 3000 people living in the area for two years, and that Boulos was negotiating time for the families to remove their belongings.
We express our full solidarity with the struggle of the MTST and with the philosopher Guilherme Boulos. He is one of the most important social leaders in Brazil. His work in defending the human rights of people in situations of extreme social vulnerability is widely recognized.
Fighting for rights is not a crime. The imprisonment of a political leader for mediating conflict is characteristic of the exceptional regime and the suspension of constitutional rights in which we live.
Deputy Father João, President of the Human Rights and Minorities Commission of the Chamber of Deputies
Deputy Paulo Pimenta, Vice-President
Deputy Nilto Tatto, Vice-President