[SENATE] 1910 Amnesty Bill

[Smyg]

I know there are other pressing matters at hand. But there are over four hundred Senators and Deputies, and three hundred sixty five days in a year. We have time to provide justice.

1910 Amnesty Bill

Whereas all participants of the so-called "Revolt of the Lash" in November 1910 were granted, via decision of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, signed by the President, a complete and full amnesty for the crime of mutiny, in return for returning custody of their ships to the State and surrendering peacefully,

Whereas the Government of that time used a subsequent and entirely unconnected minor December 1910 revolt — in which many of the amnestied participants of the "Revolt of the Lash" fought valiantly against the rebels — as an excuse to declare a state of emergency, unlawfully override the Congress-declared and Presidentially sanctioned amnesty and, in going against it, imprison said amnestied sailors,

Whereas during their unlawful imprisonment, over a dozen sailors died from exposure to poisonous quicklime within their isolation cell, at least nine were given summary and illegal executions, many suffered torture, and unknown hundreds were sent north to the Amazon as penal rubber labourers, where untold numbers died from tropical diseases, and others yet unrightfully placed in mental institutions,

Whereas ten principal leaders of the "Revolt of the Leash", who like their fellow mutineers had been given amnesties, only to face illegal imprisonment, were subsequently found not guilty of participation in the December 1910 revolt by a court of law after eighteeen months in prison, and despite this were discharged from the navy,

• Section 1. All of those sailors unlawfully punished despite their legal amnesty, known to be a minimum of 1,292 men, not counting some of those hundreds others excluded from this officially registered number which were shipped north as penal rubber labourers in the Amazon, those killed by the military police after their arrest, and those leaders who went on trial and were found innocent of participation in the December 1910 revolt, shall receive full rehabilitation, posthumously or otherwise. This includes a restoration of their legal and democratic rights as citizens, their right to take service in the Merchant Marine, and their military pensions.

• Section 2. This bill shall go into effect immediately after passage.

[LordMoose]

We will fully support the bill. While some might disagree over them being given a pardon for there actions I think we can all agree that once they where given it they should not have been punished for there crimes and find it despicable that the government would do these horrible actions to these people.

We will go a step further and request that investigation into the people who did this be carried out seeing as how we could possiblely have crimes against humanity here

[acecipher]

We also fully support this bill, and urge its quick passage for the widows who may find that they need the Pensions in short order.

[Flamelord]

Given the outcome of our civil war recently it seems foolish to not take this opportunity to correct what may have been a historical mistake. As such it has our support as well.

[Snacks]

This bill can also count on the support of the BLOC. Though the life of the average Brazilian convict is already an injustice in itself, the tragedy is only deepened in situations like this, when the justice system was manipulated for partisan ends. Official rehabilitation is the least we can do.

[Smyg]

Given the outcome of our civil war recently it seems foolish to not take this opportunity to correct what may have been a historical mistake. As such it has our support as well.

Would the PUF be opposed to an amendment that orders a new inquiry into the deaths during detention, and the illegal usage of torture? President Hermes da Fonseca died six years ago, but it is important to maintain accountability.

[Flamelord]

Would the PUF be opposed to an amendment that orders a new inquiry into the deaths during detention, and the illegal usage of torture? President Hermes da Fonseca died six years ago, but it is important to maintain accountability.

We would be willing to support such a resolution to this bill in the name of reconciliation.

[Smyg]

After this debate, we would like to open up voting on this bill, amended with the suggestions of the prior speakers in mind.

Amended 1910 Amnesty Bill

Whereas all participants of the so-called "Revolt of the Lash" in November 1910 were granted, via decision of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, signed by the President, a complete and full amnesty for the crime of mutiny, in return for returning custody of their ships to the State and surrendering peacefully,

Whereas the Government of that time used a subsequent and entirely unconnected minor December 1910 revolt — in which many of the amnestied participants of the "Revolt of the Lash" fought valiantly against the rebels — as an excuse to declare a state of emergency, unlawfully override the Congress-declared and Presidentially sanctioned amnesty and, in going against it, imprison said amnestied sailors,

Whereas during their unlawful imprisonment, over a dozen sailors died from exposure to poisonous quicklime within their isolation cell, at least nine were given summary and illegal executions, many suffered torture, and unknown hundreds were sent north to the Amazon as penal rubber labourers, where untold numbers died from tropical diseases, and others yet unrightfully placed in mental institutions,

Whereas ten principal leaders of the "Revolt of the Leash", who like their fellow mutineers had been given amnesties, only to face illegal imprisonment, were subsequently found not guilty of participation in the December 1910 revolt by a court of law after eighteeen months in prison, and despite this were discharged from the navy,

• Section 1. All of those sailors unlawfully punished despite their legal amnesty, known to be a minimum of 1,292 men, not counting some of those hundreds others excluded from this officially registered number which were shipped north as penal rubber labourers in the Amazon, those killed by the military police after their arrest, and those leaders who went on trial and were found innocent of participation in the December 1910 revolt, shall receive full rehabilitation, posthumously or otherwise. This includes a restoration of their legal and democratic rights as citizens, their right to take service in the Merchant Marine, and their military pensions.

• Section 2. The Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs shall launch a full inquiry into the deaths of sailors in custody after the November and December 1910 revolts, as well as the usage of torture, intentional neglect, forced labour and other inhumane methods against them, to determine what transpired and who is responsible.

• Section 3. This bill shall go into effect immediately after passage.

[Westar]

The amendment addresses concerns previously unnoticed and as such we find it suitable. We will wait for further discussion before requesting a vote to finalise our decision.

[Smyg]

After an apparent silence, we will indeed request voting to be opened on the amended bill.

[Luc]

Sebastião do Rego Barros, President of the Chamber of Deputies

That motion is in order, you may begin voting on it.

[Smyg]

The Communist Party of Brazil (4) naturally votes yes.

Justiça para os marinheiros heróicos!

[Westar]

The National Liberal Alliance (70) will vote in favour.

[Flamelord]

The Federal Union Party (93) votes Yes on this bill

[Red John]

Partido Liberal Democrata(91) - yes.