Lula calls for peace amidst tragedies

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed profound dismay at the tragic passing of five-year-old Eloah Passos. On Saturday (Aug. 12), she was tragically shot within her home while playing in her bedroom in the community of Cova da Onça, located in Morro do Dendê, Rio de Janeiro.

"What is this stray bullet? Someone shot that way, that bullet was not lost. This bullet was thrown that way to hit someone and caught a five-year-old child. Where do we end up with this kind of behavior, this kind of violence? And many times it's the police themselves who shoot," said Lula, on Monday (14), during the weekly program Conversation with the President, broadcast by Canal Gov. 

Passos fell victim to a tragic incident that unfolded amidst a conflict triggered by the entrance of military police aiming to disband a gathering of residents protesting against the death of Wendel Eduardo, a 17-year-old, in a prior military police operation in Dendê. This unfortunate occurrence prompted the removal of the police battalion's commander stationed on Ilha do Governador.

"In discussing matters like this, there's a misconception that we are opposed to the police. To be clear, we are not against the police, we advocate for a force composed of well-prepared, well-educated, and intelligent police officers. What is unacceptable, however, is firing indiscriminately, without a clear target in sight. This resembles the nature of a stray bullet: I aimed at one, but ended up hitting another. What manner of jest is this? Our nation cannot tolerate such circumstances," the president emphasized.

Culture of peace

In his remarks, the president discussed the incident while delving into Brazil's potential for economic growth, enhancing the populace's quality of life, and underlining the significance of fostering a culture of peace within the nation and across the globe.

During a previous week's event in Rio de Janeiro, the president had already expressed his condemnation of innocent lives being lost due to actions by police officers. He emphasized that it is crucial not to equate the impoverished with criminals.

Lula asserted, "It's imperative to treat individuals from the periphery with respect, ensuring that the tragic fate of a young boy, victimized by an ill-prepared police officer, remains an isolated incident."

This statement was connected to the case of Thiago Menezes, a 13-year-old boy who tragically lost his life during a police operation on August 7, in Cidade de Deus, located in the western part of Rio.