What is the People’s Permanent Court convicting Bolsonaro in this 5th case?

President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) was convicted today by the TPP (Permanent People’s Court) for crimes against humanity committed during the covid-19 pandemic. The court can guide other institutions without legal effect and serves as a thermometer of international public opinion about the Brazilian government.

HE UOL explains below what the court is, how it came to be, and whose part it is.

The crime for which President Bolsonaro is responsible is a systematic violation of human rights that has killed tens of thousands of Brazilians because of his senseless policy regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
TPP’s September 1 penalty against Bolsonaro government

The TPP prosecutes crimes against minorities. The court was founded in Italy in 1979 by senator and lawyer Lelio Basso. He was the coordinator of the two Russell Courts:

• one focused on crimes committed in the Vietnam War (1966-1967),
• the other explored oppression in the dictatorships of Latin American countries (1973-1976).

The Permanent Court of the Peoples is a symbolic court. That is, it has no power to file a lawsuit against a state or head of government and is therefore called a “court of opinion”.

Why is it important? A conviction by the TPP can put international pressure on the federal government and be referred to The Hague Tribunal for crimes against humanity and the IACHR (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights), which is endorsed by Brazil. In practice, it is a court of political influence.

A Brazilian woman is part of the court: federal deputy Luiza Erundina (PSOL-SP) is one of the vice presidents of the TPP. Lawyer Dalmo de Abreu Dallari, who passed away in April this year, was also a member of the TPP.

There were 13 experts on the jury against the Bolsonaro government. Four are Brazilians: Joziléia Kaingang, geographer and indigenous anthropologist of the Kaingang ethnic group; Retired Judge of TJ-SP, Kendirik Boujikian; Rubens Ricupero, ambassador and former Minister of Finance and Environment; and Vercilene Dias Kalunga, a kilombola lawyer.