Violent Start

It is too early to rule out a purely political motive
in the death of mayor Celso Daniel, but
straightforward crime seems to be a better bet.

John Fitzpatrick

Health Minister José Serra has finally stepped forward as the government standard-bearer in this year's presidential elections. But the early going in election year 2002 has also produced the execution-style killing of a mayor and member of the left-wing PT. Celso Daniel is the second PT mayor killed in recent months... The kidnapping and brutal murder of a mayor from the left-wing Workers' Party (PT) has led to the nauseating sight of the PT calling on the government to get tough on crime.

Dozens of people are murdered in Brazil every day, many in PT-controlled cities like São Paulo, but only when one of the PT's own is killed does the party start demanding action. Suddenly the victim has become more important than the criminal, and the PT appreciates the fears of many Brazilians who are scared to go out at night. One PT state governor even said he would not oppose the army playing a part in the fight against crime.

This turns the PT's views on crime on their head. Soon it will be claiming that while all men are equal some are more equal than others… The human tragedy aside, the PT is trying to milk the killing of mayor Celso Daniel to present itself as a helpless victim of unknown powerful forces—"gente grossa" (big shots) as the PT leader and probable presidential candidate, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called them.

The PT can point to the unsolved murder of another PT mayor in Campinas last September, and a pipe bomb attack a month later on a PT mayor in Embu—both cities in the state of São Paulo—as proof of a campaign against it. A shadowy group calling itself the Brazilian Revolutionary Action Front claimed responsibility for the Campinas killing, but it is a moot point whether this group even exists. The PT would like voters to think there is a death squad or similar organization lurking out there, targeting its representatives, but without diminishing the real danger that Brazilian politicians face, it is difficult to believe this. Conspiracy theories always make good headlines but getting to the truth is more difficult.

At the moment, the investigation into the killing of Celso Daniel is focusing on the person who was accompanying the mayor when he was kidnapped. This is a businessman whose testimony has been contradictory, and who has made a lot of money in a short time providing services for the administration of Santo André, the industrial suburb of São Paulo where Daniel was mayor. It is too early to rule out a purely political motive but straightforward crime, perhaps involving drugs, bribes or even an attempt to exchange the mayor for prisoners, seems to be a better bet.

Lula used the occasion to put on a suit and tie and meet President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. They were pictured together like elder statesmen uniting in a common cause. Cardoso even said society should declare "war" against crime. The authorities are drawing up a plan to combat crime, although most people are skeptical that anything will come of it. São Paulo state Governor Geraldo Alckmin, shooting from the lip, called for pre-paid cellular phones to be banned because of their widespread use by criminals. As they are also used by the 99.9 percent of the population that is not criminal, this idea was ridiculed and shelved. If this is the kind of proposal elected officials have to offer, then we can expect little change.

It will be interesting to see if the PT can really show itself to be serious in the fight against crime, because it could gain many votes. The U.K. Labor Party managed to shed its image as being soft on crime when Tony Blair said it would be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime". Crime is not a major issue in Brazil even though the levels of violence and general criminality are horrifying by European or even U.S. standards. Almost everyone knows someone who has been robbed, kidnapped or even murdered and people feel helpless to resist or escape crime.

Few political candidates make an issue of fighting crime, probably because most do not want any possible investigation of their own background in case they are found to be linked to crime and criminals. The main exception, former São Paulo mayor Paulo Maluf, is once again in the headlines over money he has allegedly squirreled away illegally abroad.

It is unlikely that the main contenders for the government presidential candidacy—Health Minister José Serra for the PSDB (Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira—Brazilian Social Democracy Party) and Maranhão state Governor Roseana Sarney for the PFL (Partido da Frente Liberal—Liberal Front Party)—will raise crime as an issue during the campaign. The Sarney family has run the northeastern state of Maranhão for over 40 years and has done nothing to reduce crime there, either white-collar corruption or violence. One particularly revolting case involving what appears to be ritual murder of around 20 youths, who were horribly mutilated, has been unresolved for 10 years.

Serra is building his hopes on his handling of the Health Ministry, and his publicity-seeking battles against international pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, Serra is languishing in the polls with around 7 percent support, while Lula has around 30 percent and Roseana Sarney around 20 percent. Despite his pathetic poll position, Serra is being seen as the natural government candidate. The PMDB (Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro—Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) president, São Paulo Congressman Michel Temer, even said that Serra had promised the party the vice-presidency, although the PMDB has no one with the same high profile as Roseana Sarney. The exception would be Minas Gerais state Governor and former President Itamar Franco, who is a bitter opponent of the PMDB's pro-government wing.

Roseana Sarney is being treated as a passing phase and is almost being discounted despite her high poll ranking. She and Serra were due to meet to discuss future developments. No doubt, Serra imagines he will be setting the agenda. But things may not turn out quite the way he wishes.

John Fitzpatrick is a Scottish journalist who first visited Brazil in 1987 and has lived in São Paulo since 1995. He writes on politics and finance and runs his own company, Celtic Comunicações, which specializes in editorial and translation services for Brazilian and foreign clients. You can reach him at Johnfitz@osite.com.br  

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