CARICOM condemns storming of Congress, Supreme Court in Brazil

The 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping has “strongly” condemned “the violent invasion of government buildings that occurred in Brasilia on Sunday as it reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to punish supporters of the country’s ex-leader, Jair Bolsonaro, after they stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and surrounded the presidential palace on Sunday.

Lula said there was “no precedent in the history of our country” for the scenes in Brasilia and called the violence the “acts of vandals and fascists”.

In a statement late Sunday, CARICOM described those who invaded the buildings as “a misguided mob refusing to accept the results of free and fair democratic elections”.

“Those involved should be held to account. We welcome the quick restoration of order. CARICOM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law,” the regional integration grouping said in its brief statement.

Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is facing a general election on January 18, also condemned the invasion saying “Mr. Bolsonaro lost the presidential election, found to be free and fair by observers from international organizations, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the will of the electorate must be fully respected.

“These attacks on institutions of government by groups, seeking to overturn the results are assaults on democracy, which will not be tolerated by the governments and peoples of the hemisphere.”

“The government of Antigua & Barbuda stands in support of democratically-elected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his Government, and we will make this position clear at the OAS and at the United Nations in the coming days,” Prime Minister Browne added.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly refused to accept that he lost October’s election and last week left the country instead of taking part in inaugural ceremonies which would have seen him hand over the iconic presidential sash.

The 67-year-old – who is believed to be in Florida – condemned the attack and denied responsibility for encouraging the rioters in a post on Twitter some 6 hours after violence broke out. -(CMC)