December 22, 2021

10:12

Eduardo Figueiredo and Priscila Peixoto – from Cenarium Magazine

PARÁ – In a video that circulates in social networks, security guards of a private company appear assaulting homeless people who were sleeping on top of the stalls, at the Feira da 25, in the São Brás neighborhood, in Belém do Pará. In the images, it is possible to see the moment when the security guards wake up two men and assault them.

 “Please, man, you are beating me up. I’m not a thug”, says one of the victims while he was lying on the ground being beaten by the security guards.

In a statement, the Center for Operational Support of Human Rights of the Public Ministry of Pará (CAODH / MPPA) said it learned of the images through social networks and as soon, unofficially, contacted the prosecutor on duty Isaiah Medeiros who, in turn, reported that the case was already being investigated by the police. The text also points out that those involved have already been identified and that the victim was subjected to physical examination.

Investigation

The extraordinary secretary of Citizenship and Human Rights of Belém, Max André Corrêa, requested the MP to open an investigative procedure to investigate the actions of private security groups, for the alleged practice of violence against vulnerable groups.

“CAODH, as an organ of operational support to the members of the MPPA, will follow the developments and make itself available to public bodies and civil entities for the protection of rights”, informs the note.

Understanding the case

On December 17, a man who was sleeping in a wooden structure at the Feira da 25, considered one of the most traditional in Belém, was violently woken up by employees of a security company identified as Braga Patrimonial.

Upon being awakened with aggressions from the security guards, the man, frightened, questions the reason for the violent approach while trying to defend himself from kicks and blows with batons. “Hey, watchman, what’s that? Please, man. Why are you guys doing this to me? Please! All the guards know me here. You’re beating me up. I’m not a thug”, says the man.

In the images, it is possible to hear one of the security guards talking while the victim is being beaten. “After this punishment, you will be out of here, do you understand?” According to the Association of Marketers of the 25th Street Fair, the guards do not provide security services for the fair. According to the company Braga Patrimonial, all those involved in the aggression were fired.

The Archdiocese of Belem also pronounced itself about the case and in a note repudiated the aggressions committed. “We seek through the work of our Pastoral Work, tirelessly, to promote the welfare of homeless people, abandoned people or those on the margins of society”, said the Archdiocese.

In a video posted on Instagram, the mayor of Belem, Edmilson Rodrigues (PSOL), called for the punishment of the aggressors and those involved and classified the episode as an act of torture and inadmissible. “I received an image of a criminal action committed by real militiamen, employees of a private company. It is revolting and inadmissible. We have notified the competent organs, I appeal to the Security Secretariat and the Public Ministry to investigate and punish in the rigor of the law those responsible”, declared Edmilson.

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