Brazilian organizations ask the US to open secret archives about the 1964 coup
WBO Press release
July 5 2023
Updated on Mars 30 2024, with James N. Green video
Group of 16 entities and 8 personalities linked to the study of history want access to confidential records in Washington
In a letter, signatories appeal to Biden's spirit of transparency and the strengthening of democracy in Brazil-US relations
A group of Brazilian civil society organizations delivered this Wednesday, July 5, 2023, to US President Joe Biden a letter in which they ask the US government to withdraw the secrecy imposed on documents relating to the coup d'état that took place in Brazil in 1964 and the dictatorship that followed until 1985. These documents were produced by different instances of the US government, such as the CIA, which is the American Intelligence Agency, and the State Department, equivalent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the letter, the organizations call for "the commitment to transparency and the defense of democracy" that unites the US and Brazilian governments. The group also mentions the 200th anniversary of the US government's recognition of Brazil's independence, which took place in 1822. Addressing Biden, the signatories recall that the dictatorship period (1964-1985) "was characterized by repression, human rights abuses and the restriction of civil liberties" and point out that these are "scars that continue to impact society even today".
"By declassifying documents pertaining to the Brazilian dictatorship, you would demonstrate your unwavering commitment to truth, accountability and the rule of law. Furthermore, it would send a powerful signal to the Brazilian people that the United States is on their side in their quest for justice and defense of democracy. Declassification would also provide valuable information about human rights violations committed during the Brazilian dictatorship and shed light on the extent of involvement or knowledge of the United States about these events. This act of transparency would also strengthen the foundations of our relationship bilaterally, fostering trust and collaboration on important issues such as human rights, democracy and regional stability", says the text of the letter.
The document is signed by a group of 16 civil society organizations and by 6 former presidents of ANPUH (National Association of University Professors of History), including the current president. The WBO (Washington Brazil Office) is one of the 16 organizations that signed the document, and was responsible for articulating the initiative.
The chairman of the WBO Board of Directors is American historian James N. Green, who teaches Brazilian history at Brown University and is the author of 11 books on Brazil. In an interview with the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, published on July 3, he says that the declassification of secret documents by the US government "would be a sign of good intentions, in the context of 60 years of the military coup and 200 years of recognition of Brazil's independence by the USA, to show that they really believe in democracy".
List of organizations and personalities:
Ação da Cidadania
Associação Nacional de História (ANPUH)
Artigo 19
Centro Dom Helder Camara de Estudos e Ação Social
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Coalizão Brasil por Memória, Verdade, Justiça, Reparação e Democracia
Coletivo de Filhos e Netos por Memória, Verdade e Justiça
Coletivo RJ Memória, Verdade, Justiça e Reparação
Comissão Arns
Comissão de Familiares de Mortos e Desaparecidos
Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais da Bahia
Instituto Vladimir Herzog
Movimento de Justiça e Direitos Humanos
Núcleo Memória de SP
Opening the Archives Project, Brown University
Washington Brazil Office
Benito Bisso Schmidt, Presidente da ANPUH 2011-2013
Durval Muniz de Albuquerque Júnior, Presidente da ANPUH 2009-2011
Jair Krishke, Presidente do MJDH
Joana Maria Pedro, Presidenta da ANPUH 2017-2019
Luiz Carlos Soares, Presidente da ANPUH 2003-2005
Lana Lage da Gama Lima, Presidenta da ANPUH 1997-1999
Maria Helena Rolim Capelato, Presidenta da ANPUH 2015-2017
Valdei Lopes de Araújo, Presidente da ANPUH 2021-2023
