Brothers, now more than ever must we address an issue long neglected in Brazil. The issue of imprisonment and corruption in the legal system and the danger of left-wing propaganda being spread to the prison populations. We have seen the effects first hand of the neglect of the prisons and because of this neglect, we have witnessed a needless massacre in Recife.
Distracted by the Cangaceiro exploits in the countryside and the large communist rally taking place in the state capital, the Police Forces of Recife were stretched thin (more than usual), and it was there was the strike would happen. During the night, a group of Cangaceiros, that had previously sneaked into the city dressed as ordinary peasants and civilians (even using police uniforms in some cases), and aided by a legion of thieves, bandits and other criminals of Recife would lead a daring raid to the largest prison in the city. The gates were smashed with a large truck, and a large group of armed men would immediately enter. The already small garrison of guards would be quickly overwhelmed, as the combined strike from the outside invading forces and a communist/anarchist led riot that immediately erupted inside the prison would very rapidly destroy any of their defensive efforts. The insurgents would be soon in control of the prison.
The control of the Thieves and the Communists over the prison would not last long. The state government would be quick to answer, dispatching large swaths of the local Army garrison, the local police force and the State Public Force to retake control of the prison. The battle was fierce, bloody, and lasted all night. By the time the sun rose in the sea, the prison as back under state control, but at a huge cost. Many were killed, with high losses on both sides, leaving a scene of absurd brutality and sheer terror in the decrepit complex. Despite the losses, it is suspected that the Cangaceiros themselves (who are assumed to have planned and led the attack) suffered few casualties, and were able to swiftly escape the chaos and blend in with the poor masses of the city. On a more interesting note, a substantial group of important inmates, among them notorious thieves, union leaders, ‘Bolshevik’ agitators and Antonio Silvino, a notorious cangaceiro who ruled the Sertão before his arrest, are not accounted for, not being detained by the police or found among the dead.
Not only this, but the Communists have taken it upon themselves to smuggle contraband into the prison systems in order to radicalize prisoners, taking advantage of the inhuman conditions in our prisons to do this. This is unacceptable and insulting to the families of those lost in the Communist Insurgency over the prison, we can never let this happen again.
At the same time, there is a growth of left-wing activity within the prisons, especially those in the northeast. Prison guards now find smuggled books and essays (most on Marxism) more than they ever did knives or other types of contraband, and graffiti with phrases such as “Viva Lenin” (Long live Lenin) and “Todo o poder aos Sovietes” (All the power to the Soviets) is now commonplace in the walls of many cells. Some activists who purposefully jailed themselves in order to disseminate Marxist-Leninist ideology have already been caught (and kept in jail), but it is suspected that the ring of Leftwing activity in Brazil’s system is much larger, and growing every day.
This tragedy and embarrassment was avoidable and thus we'd like to put forward a motion which would address the conditions in Brazilian prisons and ensure that justice for the lives lost will be swift against those who commited such an act of terrorism in our Fatherland.
whereas The conditions inside the prison system must be improved in order to eliminate the motivation to riot.
whereas Communist Agitators have made a mockery of the system and have found success in radicalizing prisoners leading to a tragic loss of life in Recife.
whereas Many Guards and Wardens have engaged in some form of corruption and abuse against prisoners and must be replaced by those who would remain fair and honest in their dealings.
Section 1. A commission is established to monitor and evaluate living, safety, sanitary, etc conditions in our Prison system and inspect them bi-annually. Wardens and Guards will be thoroughly vetted and evaluated in order to ensure that no cruelty and abuse will ever take root in the system ever again. It will review methods used by Guards and comment accordingly to maximise the efficiency of the Prison staff in finding and confiscating contraband and keeping the peace.
Section 2. Political Agitators will be seperated entirely from the common prisoner population so that radicalization becomes difficult.Separate facilities will be made to specialize for the difference in situations between those attempting to radicalize the prison population and legitimate criminals serving time in prison. if this is unfeasible then separate areas would be acceptable, so long as they do not routinely come in contact with the general population. Political texts of any sort that have been confiscated are to be stored and disposed of privately.
Section 3. Libraries shall be built for the inmates to encourage them to pursue their own education and to better adjust back into the outside world. Prisoners may be subject to denial based on behavior.
Section 4. Compensation will be sent to the families of the victims of the attack on the recife prison to pay for funerals, etc.
This of course is a rough draft and we invite people to debate and offer alternatives. So long as something is done.
