Jamil Chad Bolsonarist summit explores relationship between diplomats and journalists 12/12/2022 10:01 am

In an instruction sent to Brazilian diplomats in November 2020, Itamaraty stated that an investigation was launched against him. investigate allegations of leaks and contacts between the columnist and ambassadors and diplomats Jamil Chad????????

At the time, the Prime Ministry was led by Ernesto Araújo, one of the main pillars of the most radical wing of Bolsonarism, a supporter of Olavo de Carvalho and aligning Brazil with the government of Donald Trump and Steve Bannon.

The investigation included reporting and questioning about the journalist. Officially, the purpose of the investigation is to UOL He had obtained sensitive and confidential information that formed the basis of the report, “Brazil sided with the Islamists and ignored the project at the UN,” published on October 6 of that year. [Organização das Nações Unida] to protect women

During the verification of this report, the column called Itamaraty, but the Chancellery remained silent.

After publication, diplomats were given questions and instructed to keep these questions confidential, including those related to other fellow colleagues. Among the questions were:

1) Do you personally know journalist Jamil Chade?

2) Have you had any private or personal contact with the journalist? If so, what were the conditions?

3) Do you know any other diplomats who have a professional or private relationship with the journalist?

4) Have any diplomats used other media to access sensitive and confidential information on the subject in question? For example Whatsapp?

And now? Last week, the column contacted the State Department and asked who was responsible for the investigation and if there were any results. Itamaraty did not respond to these questions, but sent a note.

“According to Article 143 of Law No. 8.112/90, the Ministry is tasked with investigating cases of suspected irregularity in public services. In accordance with Article IX of the same law, 8.112, disclose confidential information of the server”, says the text.

As regulated in the same law, these investigations can only be opened against public officials. Therefore, in this context, no investigation can be conducted against any journalist or person outside the ministry.

Submitting the survey created an atmosphere of persecution within Itamaraty., according to diplomats. For the Chancery officials, this document was proof that the Bolsonarist leadership scrutinized any contact with the press.

Mutual distrust also began to form – even if someone lied in the answers, there was a fear that others might reproach their colleagues, hoping to win the sympathy of the then prime minister.

This post-investigation tension was another sign of persecution It was established in the ministry against anyone questioning Bolsonarism. By UOL It was revealed last week that a secret network of resistance had been formed within Itamaraty to contain the damage done to the country’s foreign policy.

Aside from diplomats trying to resist, the reality is that there is a significant group in the office of Prime Minister who openly claim to be monarchists. One of the heads of a department dealing with protocol had a monarchy-ruled Brazilian flag in his office in the middle of the Republic.