Brazil Government Acknowledges Responsibility for Journalist Vladimir Herzog’s Murder: A Landmark Agreement
In a significant move towards accountability, the Brazilian government has officially recognized its role in the tragic murder of journalist Vladimir Herzog, who was killed during the nation’s oppressive dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. On Thursday, the government reached a historic agreement that includes a formal statement of liability and a compensation package of 3 million Brazilian reais (approximately $544,800) for Herzog’s family.
This settlement aligns with a federal court ruling earlier this year, which mandated retroactive pension payments for Herzog’s widow, Clarice Herzog, amounting to roughly $6,000 per month. Herzog’s son, Ivo Herzog, expressed gratitude for the government’s acknowledgment, stating, “This apology is not merely symbolic. It signifies a state that does not mirror the oppressive regime of the past.” He emphasized that his family’s ordeal reflects the experiences of countless others who lost loved ones during this dark chapter in Brazilian history.
Vladimir Herzog, a prominent journalist and dissident, was only 38 years old when he died in 1975. Following the military coup that ousted leftist President Joao Goulart, the Brazilian government became notorious for human rights violations, including the arbitrary detention and torture of activists, students, and anyone perceived as a threat. Many individuals were forced into exile, while others were killed or went missing, with estimates of deaths ranging from 500 to as high as 10,000.
Initially, Herzog sought safety in the United Kingdom but returned to Brazil to become the news editor for TV Cultura, a public television station. Tragically, on October 24, 1975, he was summoned to an army barracks under the pretense of providing testimony regarding his political affiliations. He never returned home. The military later claimed he had committed suicide, releasing a staged photograph of his body. However, a rabbi who examined Herzog’s remains discovered signs of torture, turning his funeral into a pivotal moment against the dictatorship.
Ivo Herzog was just nine years old when his father was murdered. Recently, he spoke to Al Jazeera about the release of “I’m Still Here,” a film spotlighting another victim of the dictatorship, politician Rubens Paiva, who also vanished after being summoned by military officials. Ivo lauded the film for its role in raising awareness about the atrocities committed during this era and expressed hope that the Brazilian government would formally recognize the harm inflicted upon his family and amend the 1979 Amnesty Law that has shielded military personnel from accountability.
“What are they waiting for? For everyone connected to that period to die?” Herzog challenged, highlighting Brazil’s troubling tendency towards collective amnesia regarding its past. “We have made very little progress.”
On the same day, Jorge Messias, Brazil’s federal legal counselor, heralded the agreement with the Herzog family as a pivotal moment in acknowledging the legacy of Vladimir Herzog. He drew parallels between the 1964 coup and contemporary political events, referencing the January 8, 2023, insurrection by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who attempted to overturn the recent election results. Current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has likened that incident to a coup, underscoring the ongoing struggles for democracy in Brazil.
“In the 2022 election, we faced a critical choice: to reaffirm democracy or risk reverting to the horrors of our past,” Messias stated, reflecting on the country’s tumultuous history and the importance of remembering it to ensure a democratic future.
This landmark agreement marks a crucial step in Brazil’s journey toward justice and reconciliation, illuminating the path for other families affected by the dictatorship’s brutality.
