(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – Early in the morning of Saturday 23 March 2002, journalist Andréa Vaz, correspondent for the daily “A Tarde”, of the Brazilian state of Bahia, was mistreated by military police officers. She was also accused of committing a crime “against the public administration”. The journalist tried to assist a woman who was being beaten […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – Early in the morning of Saturday 23 March 2002, journalist Andréa Vaz, correspondent for the daily “A Tarde”, of the Brazilian state of Bahia, was mistreated by military police officers. She was also accused of committing a crime “against the public administration”. The journalist tried to assist a woman who was being beaten in a bar in Salvador, the state capital, and ended up being punished by the police for intervening.
Vaz tried to intervene during the assault but the police officers, who arrived at the bar, allowed the assailant to flee. The journalist went outside and managed to take down the individual’s licence plate number. She was then asked by soldier Itamar Rodrigues da Fonseca why she was “doing his job.” Vaz responded that it was also her duty as a journalist to investigate the incident and report on the police’s passive response.
The soldier went into the bar to look for his superior, Captain Ubiracy Vieira Santos. The captain came out onto the street and ordered Vaz’s arrest. “A Tarde” reported that the journalist was “violently forced into the police vehicle, suffering bruises and scrapes, which were subsequently confirmed in a medical exam.” The daily reported that Vaz was held at the station until her father arrived. She was also forced to sign a document admitting her guilt, under threat that if she refused to do so she would be held until Monday 25 March. Moreover, the journalist denounced the fact that on the next day a police vehicle followed her.
Vaz received support from a number of entities, including press organisations, the Salvador Chamber of Town Councillors, Member of Parliament Nelson Pellegrino, president of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal Chamber (national legislature), and Member of Parliament Moema Gramacho, member of the Human Rights Commission of the Legislative Assembly (state legislature). Gramacho accompanied the journalist when she appeared before Captain José Malaquias, of the Military Police Comissioner’s Office.
“A Tarde” reported that the military police commander, Colonel Jorge Luís dos Santos, felt that the police officers’ behaviour was “unacceptable” and that he would “personally adopt the necessary measures to investigate the incident and guarantee Andréa Vaz’s safety.”
