Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 18 auguSt 2018
Could Brazil’s da Silva really run? It’s not likely

By SARAH DiLORENZO the Supreme Federal Tribu-
Associated Press nal — the second-highest
SAO PAULO (AP) — While and the highest courts in
jailed former President Luiz the land, respectively.
Inacio Lula da Silva has Da Silva and his supporters
long insisted he can run for contend such relief is a real
Brazil’s presidency again possibility. They have al-
despite his conviction, le- ways argued the allegation
gal experts say the path that he traded favors with
to doing that is extremely a construction company in
narrow and unlikely to hap- exchange for the promise
pen. And his Workers’ Party of a beachfront apartment
risks missing the deadline to was trumped up precisely
register an alternative can- to prevent him from assum-
didate if it pushes his case ing the presidency again.
for too long. He and his party contend
The party defiantly regis- that behind his prosecu-
tered da Silva’s candidacy tion is a conspiracy to un-
in October’s election to dermine the gains made
much fanfare Wednes- during his 2003-2010 presi-
day, despite his conviction dency, when da Silva over-
for corruption and money saw an economic boom
laundering last year — a In this April 7, 2018 file photo, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looks on before and shared its fruits with the
decision that was upheld speaking to supporters outside the Metal Workers Union headquarters in Sao Bernardo do Campo, country’s poor and work-
in January by an appeals Brazil. ing classes. “Right now,
court. Under a provision Associated Press we are concerned with
that da Silva himself signed registered, including ac- says that when a person while in prison,” including guaranteeing the popu-
into law while president, cess to the free television presents his registration, he not barring his candidacy lar sovereignty,” said for-
candidates who have had time allotted for political is a candidate, normally until all of his appeals have mer Sao Paulo Mayor Fer-
a conviction upheld are ads. Some of these benefits until the day that electoral finished. nando Haddad, who was
ineligible to hold office for may be restricted by da authorities say he cannot Experts say the electoral registered Wednesday as
eight years. Silva’s imprisonment, but be a candidate.” tribunal is all but certain to da Silva’s vice presiden-
But such candidates are he still holds a wide lead in The question of whether da reject da Silva’s candidacy tial candidate. “And the
not automatically barred pre-election polls. Silva should be allowed to as it stands, but his support- people want to see Lula on
from campaigning for of- “The fact of not being able run has attracted atten- ers hope for a favorable de- the ballot.” But the Work-
fice. The Supreme Electoral to be a candidate doesn’t tion even outside Brazil. cision in the criminal courts ers’ Party also has to keep
Tribunal must officially ac- prevent you from trying On Friday, a group of U.N.- while election officials are its eye on the clock. It only
cept or reject da Silva’s to be a candidate,” said appointed human rights considering his case. This has until Sept. 17 to replace
candidacy. In the mean- Daniel Falcao, a profes- experts called for Brazilian would be a decision to da Silva if he is barred. Had-
time, he is free to cam- sor of electoral law at the authorities to ensure that overturn or suspend his dad would likely then take
paign and receive the Institute of Public Law of da Silva “can enjoy and conviction from either the the top spot. The first round
benefits of being officially Brasilia. “The electoral law exercise his political rights Superior Court of Justice or of the election is Oct. 7.q

Families of Peru’s disappeared

hope for answers

By RODRIGO ABD conflict. vast majority of cases.
FRANKLIN BRICENO Under the new measure, Forensic scientists in several
Associated Press authorities can turn over countries in Latin America
AYACUCHO, Peru (AP) remains uncovered by fo- are still working to identify
— Thousands of Peruvian rensic scientists before de- the remains of people killed
families who have spent termining a cause of death during military dictatorships
decades wondering about or completing an investi- and civil conflicts decades
loved ones who disap- gation. Families are also ago.
peared during years of no longer required to file In countries like Peru, those
bloody conflict between a complaint with the chief remains are being found in
the state and Maoist guer- prosecutor’s office first. remote areas that are diffi- In this Aug. 14, 2018 photo, relatives take pictures of remains
rillas have new hopes for More than 20,300 Peruvians cult to access. of Fortunate Ventura Huamacusi, a man who was killed by the
getting the closure they are still considered “disap- Susana Cori, who is leading Peruvian army in 1983, before placing the coffin in cemetery in
have been searching for. peared” in the struggle be- work by the International Peru’s Ayacucho province.
The skeletal remains of tween Peru’s military and Red Cross in locating the Associated Press
14 people were recently Shining Path rebels dur- disappeared in Peru, Boliv- aimed at helping families of belonging to the Shin-
turned over to loved ones ing the 1980s and 1990s. ia and Ecuador, called the whose relatives were infor- ing Path and shot him to
under an innovative new Public prosecutors with new Peruvian approach mally buried. death. Hours later, his fright-
law that authorities hope heavy caseloads and few unique, saying that in oth- The family of Alberto Ra- ened relatives buried him in
will speed up what has resources have been un- er parts of the region, “this mos is among the first to a rural cemetery and never
long been a lengthy and able to identify suspects or model with a humanitarian benefit from that aspect. got a death certificate to
burdensome process to help families find their miss- focus has not been used.” Military officers accused formally declare his violent
identify those killed in the ing relative’s remains in the The new mandate is also the 25-year-old truck driver end.q