Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

A11
WORLD NEWS Thursday 12 OcTOber 2017

Brazil lawmaker argues against putting president on trial

By SARAH DiLORENZO appointed to study the
Associated Press accusation and make a
SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazil- recommendation, told a
ian lawmaker recommend- Chamber of Deputies com-
ed this week that his col- mittee Tuesday that the in-
leagues vote against put- dictment doesn’t offer suffi-
ting President Michel Temer cient proof of wrongdoing.
on trial on charges of lead- He criticized prosecutors
ing a criminal organization and investigators for over-
and obstructing justice. reaching.
Last month, then-Attorney De Andrada also rejected
General Rodrigo Janot charges against Temer’s
presented an indictment Chief of Staff Eliseu Padil-
in which he accused Te- ha and Secretary-General
mer’s Brazilian Democratic Wellington Moreira Franco.
Movement Party of receiv- All three deny wrongdoing.
ing nearly $190 million in “The attempt to involve
bribes in exchange for po- ministers and the president
litical favors and influence. in these accusations finds
He said that Temer led the no support in the many
“criminal apparatus.” pages of the indictment,”
He also accused Temer of said de Andrada, a depu-
initiating the payment of ty. In this Sept. 15, 2017 photo, Brazil’s President Michel Temer attends a ceremony at the Brain
hush money to jailed for- The committee is expected Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A Brazilian lawmaker recommended Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017 that
mer Chamber of Deputies to vote on the recommen- his colleagues vote against putting Temer on trial on charges of leading a criminal organization
Speaker Eduardo Cunha dation next week, and a fi- and obstructing justice, saying the indictment doesn’t offer sufficient proof of wrongdoing.
and to a political opera- nal decision on whether to (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
tor — both of whom he al- try Temer will rest with the mer has already survived zil which has uncovered ing those signed by execu-
legedly feared could give full chamber. If two-thirds one such vote on another systemic graft in the halls of tives from Brazilian com-
damning evidence against of the 513 deputies accept corruption charge. power. panies who confessed to
him. the indictment, Temer will The charges against Temer Much of the evidence in doling out millions of dollars
Bonifacio de Andrada, be suspended for up to six are part of a sprawling cor- the indictment has come in bribes to secure political
an ally of Temer who was months pending trial. Te- ruption investigation in Bra- from plea bargains, includ- favors.q

Uruguay’s 1st transgender senator seated, vows protections

By LEONARDO HABERKORN that would let transgender Previously, as an activist, knew me began to harass gree in the country of 3.3
Associated Press people change their legal she helped draft a bill that me.” million people.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay identities without having to legalized gay marriage Nevertheless Suarez fin- In 2009 she began work-
(AP) — Michelle Suarez be- get a judge’s approval. when it became law in ished high school with ing as an activist for gen-
came Uruguay’s first trans- It would also mandate that 2013. top grades. Life became der rights as a way to cope
gender senator this week, 1 percent of government In an AP interview, Suarez somewhat easier when she with her mother’s death.
vowing to use her position jobs be reserved for trans- said she was 15 when she moved from her small sea- “I had my mother — that’s
to expand and protect the gender people and estab- acknowledged that she side hometown to the cap- the only difference,” she
rights of transgender peo- lish a pension to compen- was a woman living in a ital, Montevideo. But even said. “My family didn’t kick
ple in the South American sate transgender people male body. She added that there a college professor me out of our house.”
country. who were persecuted dur- her parents have always who specialized in human The milestone for Uruguay
The 34-year-old lawmaker ing Uruguay’s 1973-1985 been supportive, but some rights refused to grade her comes amid some other
representing the Com- military dictatorship. classmates and teachers work because of who she gains for transgender rights
munist Party assumed her “Uruguay has evolved, discriminated against her was, Suarez said. in a region where macho
seat in the upper cham- but it’s still a discriminatory growing up. Suarez later became the attitudes are still prevalent
ber of congress, where country,” Suarez told the “It was a tough time,” Su- first transgender person to and resistance to LGBTQ is-
she intends to push a law Associated Press. arez said. “People who earn a university law de- sues can often be fierce. q