Brazilian police put on Watch

As protests continue in Brazil, Human Rights Watch is calling for 'a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation' into allegations that police planted evidence on two protesters who were arrested at largely peaceful protest in São Paulo on 23 June.

“Protesters who engage in vandalism and violence should be held accountable,” said Maria Laura Canineu, Brazil director at Human Rights Watch. “But so too should any police who plant evidence and deliberately accuse protesters of crimes they know that they didn’t commit.”

Father Julio Lancellotti, a well-known human rights advocate, is among those who said that no sinister items were with the protestors arrested. “I was entering the subway station when I saw two civil police officers approaching Harano and opening his backpack,” Father Lancellotti told Human Rights Watch. “They took out a gas mask and crackers, but no explosive devices.”

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