Brazil Makes Official Apology to the Indigenous Krenak People
The state of Brazil issues its first ever apology to the indigenous Krenak people over torture and persecution committed during the military dictatorship. The apology was made by an amnesty commision attached to the human rights ministry.
Its President, Eneá de Stutz e Almeida, knelt before the indigenous leader Krenak and said, “In the name of the Brazilian state I want to say sorry for all the suffering your people were put through.”
Almeida went on to say that “in truth, I’m not saying sorry [only] for what happened during the dictatorship. I’m saying sorry for the persecution your people – as well as all other native people – have suffered over the last 524 years because of the non-Indigenous invasion of this land, which belongs to you.”
The apology came at a symbolic moment for victims of the military dictatorship as it marked the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the dictatorship. Relatives of the victims expressed anger at current President Lula’s controversial decision to forbid official remembrance events. Mr. Krenak said he did not want to judge Lula’s decision but said that “those who don’t remember the past are condemned to misery. If you don’t ensure new generations – those who are 20, 30 or 40 – know their country’s political history, then you are raising a nation of fools.”
The full article can be accessed at the website of The Guardian.
