Kenneth Roth, a prominent US human rights activist, questions President Joe Biden’s behavior in welcoming Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. This week, the two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas.
Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, called for Biden to make an important statement in front of a leader he says threatens democracy.
“The Biden administration has two mindsets about human rights. Sometimes they stand up for human rights. Sometimes they fall short,” Roth told an event in Geneva on Wednesday.
“I want to see what Biden has to say in my meeting with Bolsonaro. Unfortunately, Biden has a tendency to meet with leaders who abuse human rights and say that they are just discussing human rights without doing anything else. And that’s pointless. The people of that country don’t know,” he criticized. .
“There’s a very developed civil society in Brazil. Strong press and activists. The judiciary and Congress work significantly and constrain Bolsonaro’s actions,” he said. “So Biden’s public comments are very important,” he insisted.
According to Roth, Biden will “show whether he is on the side of the Brazilian people or in a “Trump project” that threatens to undermine the next election. The activist recalls how Bolsonaro began to anticipate another election fraud before it even happened.
In the activist’s assessment, a statement by Biden would allow civil society in Brazil, where the US government is concerned with human rights and democracy in the country. According to him, Biden is also giving false signals when planning a visit to Saudi Arabia as a sign of approaching a problematic human rights leadership.
Roth’s warning came a day after Biden received a letter from more than 70 Brazilian organizations urging Americans to use meeting with Bolsonaro to demand respect for democracy and demand fair elections.
The letter requesting the American president was signed by more than 70 organizations, including the Articulation of Brazilian Indigenous Peoples, Article 19, the Arns Commission, Conectas Human Rights, Greenpeace Brazil, the Vladimir Herzog Institute, the Homeless Workers Movement, and Washington. Brazilian Office. UOL was informed that the document had reached Biden’s team.
“We understand your goals of bringing the Americas together through the Summit, especially in the face of the crisis in Europe. But we send this letter to you during your meeting to urge you to resolutely defend democracy, free and fair elections, climate action and fundamental protection of the rainforest, if Brazilian democracy collapses, Mr. All your efforts to “build a sustainable, resilient and equitable future” will be futile, the President states at the Americas Summit.
“As Brazilian NGOs, we are concerned that President Jair Bolsonaro will use his meeting with you to argue that your administration supports your attacks on democracy, free and fair elections, the environment, science, fundamental human rights and human rights. The Amazon rainforest,” they warn. .
source: Noticias
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