Jamil Chad Organizations charges Itamaraty for investigation citing UOL journalist 12/13/2022 20:18

Human rights, journalism and House of Representatives organizations are asking Itamaraty for clarification on revelations published on UOL this Monday about the existence of an investigation in Itamaraty investigating the relationship between diplomats and journalist Jamil Chade.

According to the report, diplomats took a survey in November 2020 and had to answer whether they knew the journalist and whether they knew anyone within Itamaraty who had maintained any contact with the Geneva-based reporter. According to sources within the PM’s office, the opening of an investigation has only strengthened the climate of fear and persecution that has already existed in Itamaraty since the arrival of Jair Bolsonaro’s government.

“An attempt to intimidate diplomats and restrict the work of the press is unacceptable,” said Orlando Silva, chairman of the House Human Rights Committee, reacting to the revelations this Tuesday.

“A very serious complaint that the Itamarati leadership is trying to map relations between diplomatic units and journalist Jamil Chade. This is another indication of the authoritarian nature of the Bolsonaro government. Fortunately, that night is drawing to a close,” he said.

letter to the chancellor

In a letter to current chancellor Carlos França and future minister Mauro Vieira, the Vladimir Herzog Institute demanded “an explanation of the investigative process established within the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate diplomats and journalist Jamil Chade.”

“According to information released this Monday, diplomats have had to answer curious and frightening questions about the alleged contacts with Jamil Chad, which proves an unacceptable attempt by a journalist to censor his work and a harrowing persecution of the employees of the most important body of Brazilian diplomacy.” , wrote the business, in a letter signed by its executive director, Rogério Sottili.

“In the last four years, Brazil has experienced a period of very serious setbacks, with an emphasis on the worsening of violence against journalists and communicators. As we understand, the facts that have emerged indicate an alarming persecution of diplomats working in the Brazilian service. “It reveals an unacceptable attempt to hinder the work of one of its respected representatives.”

“It never hurts to remember that two of the pillars of any regime that claims to be democratic are freedom of speech and the press,” he insisted.

“And it is the duty of all who are de facto adherents to the principles of the Democratic State of Law to react to any attempt to restrict such freedoms. Brazil’s foreign affairs are linked to acts of persecution and intimidation,” he added.

The business wishes to learn from the government about:

What explanations were requested?

At whose request was the above-mentioned investigation initiated?

What was the result of the process?

Doesn’t the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs find it arbitrary to launch an investigation process targeting a non-organizational journalist?

What about the right to confidentiality of source? According to Abraji (Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism), “the right to confidentiality of source is a constitutional rule guaranteed to journalists”. “With the investigation, Itamaraty sought to map the relationship between a reporter headquartered in Geneva and career diplomats, ignoring the fact that the relationship between members of the press and diplomats on missions abroad or any other post in the country is essential to the discharge of their duties.” said the organization in an article published this Tuesday.

“More than revealing the alleged leak, this type of investigation felt like a way to intimidate and embarrass diplomats and made the journalist’s job more difficult. The content of the questions suggests that they wanted to know who had contacted Jamil Chade. Katia Brembatti, head of Abraji, said: “to deliver a message, including a way to deter,” he said.

Abraji sent a question to MRE, stating that the investigation was closed due to lack of evidence. “In the context of the investigation subject of the consultation, questions were sent to some diplomats with the sole purpose of instructing the investigative work of the union commission, taking into account the nature of a particular case. Due to lack of materiality, the investigation was archived,” the note states.