Number 372, October 29, 1999.
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In this week's issue:
SPECIAL COVERAGE ON FEBEM REVOLT WITH URGENT ACTION REQUEST
- Four youths killed in this year’s most violent rebellion in a Sao Paulo Febem
Four youths were killed and at least 58 other youths were injured Sunday and early Monday morning in this year’s most violent rebellions in the Sao Paulo Febem (Juvenile Detention Center) system. The youths at the Imigrantes Febem decided to rebel as they feared the Military Police were going to occupy the institution to replace the Febem guards who were threatening to go on strike. More than 1,000 of the 1,216 juveniles participated in the revolt which turned quite brutal. In addition to taking 16 employees as hostages and threatening their lives, some of the youths tortured and killed four of their fellow detainees. Two of the bodies were set aflame and completely burned. The 18 hour rebellion ended when officials agreed to transfer some of the detainees to other Febems. The situation, however, continues to remain tense. As many of the buildings were completely destroyed, the youths are now all in room big hall with no beds and insufficient bathroom facilities. A picture from the Folha de Sao Paulo showed one youth urinating on the floor near where others were sleeping. As of the time of this writing, parents were keeping vigil in front of the Febem waiting to hear news about their sons. Twenty-five more youths are asking to be transferred as they are under death threats from other youths for not participating in the rebellion.
Two days later, at another Febem located in Ribeirao Preto in the interior of Sao Paulo, there was another rebellion in which 40 of the 166 youths escaped. There were no deaths or injuries reported.
The Febem system in Sao Paulo is in a total state of chaos. Below are some of the principal players involved in this complex issue and what they are saying:
The governor of the State of Sao Paulo, Mario Covas. The governor admits that he and his government are primarily responsible for the problems at the Febems. However, he points his finger to other persons/institutions as well. He blames the justice system for sending more and more kids to the detention centers; he blames the mayors of other cities in the state for not allowing detention centers to be built in their municipalities; and he blames the parents of the youths who complain when he sends the military police into the centers and complain when he does not send the military police.
The president of the Febem system, Guido Andrade. Mr. Andrade primarily blames those who directly work with the youth, the guards and Febem personnel. He once said, "The youths would be better off in a zoo than the Febem as the workers are total cavemen."
The Secretary of Assistance and Social Development, Marta Godinho. Ms. Godinho blames the guards and workers of the Febems who in her opinion, are linked to the political opposition parties and have an interest in trying to destabilize the Covas government.
The guards and employees of the Febems. This group accuses Mr. Andrade of being a complete dictator as he never consults his employees about decisions and fires workers who are able to control the situation. They deny being the instigators of the rebellions.
The judges. The judges say that they are obligated by law to send juvenile delinquents to the Febems. They complain that there is a lack of options in sentencing youths who have committed minor offenses. They also have supported the impediment of the construction of two new units in Franco da Rocha (just outside the city of Sao Paulo) because the sites chosen would violate protected forest reserves.
The parents. Some of the parents of the youths think that their sons should rebel and try to escape as the conditions in the Febems are so bad. Others want their sons to remain in the Febems because they think their sons are better off there than in the streets where there is a greater chance of their death.
The youths. The youths of the Febem want to escape as they say they are mistreated by officials and also are victims of gang violence. They want there to be revisions in sentencing, and they complain that there are inadequate recreational options in the units.
Source: Folha de Sao Paulo
October 26-28, 1999
URGENT ACTION
With almost weekly reports of rebellions, escapes, torture, and deaths in Brazilian in penal systems, particularly Sao Paulo, it is important that international attention be given to this issue. We urge you to contact the following, expressing your concern over the prison and in particular the Febem situation:
Minister of Justice: Exmo. Sr. Ministro da Justiça do Brasil, Dr. Jose Carlos Dias
Ministério da Justiça
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco 23
70064-900 Brasília, DF, Brasil
Secretário de Estado para os Direitos Humanos: Exmo. Sr. Secretário de Direitos Humanos, Dr. José Gregori
Ministério da Justiça
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco T, Ed. Sede, Sala 402
70064-901 Brasília, DF, Brasil
Governador do Estado de Sao Paulo, Sr. Mario Covas
Fax: 55-11-3745-3700
You can email the governor directly on his web page: http://www.saopaulo.sp.gov.br
click on the email button located at the bottom of the governor’s home page
NB: For more information on Brazil’s prison system, look at Amnesty International’s report located on our web page (address at top of page), News from Brazil back issue, No. 356
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