The far-right Portuguese party CHEGA is facing criticism for comments made by its leaders on Odair Moniz’s Death And Police Shooting. Their statements came after the police shooting of Odair Moniz who is a 43-year-old Cape Verdean man. This statement has caused unrest.
Read More About: Police Shooting Of Odair Moniz Sparks Outrage And Riots In Lisbon
CHEGA Comments On Odair Moniz’s Death And Police Shooting
This incident led to protests and riots in Lisbon and has sparked public outrage. Citizens and former Justice Minister Francisca Van Dunem have filed a criminal complaint against CHEGA leaders André Ventura and Pedro Pinto. They accuse them of promoting violence and undermining public order.
The complaint accuses Ventura and Pinto of instigating a crime, encouraging crime, and inciting disobedience. Van Dunem and others argue that these statements may encourage law enforcement to act unlawfully. They believe these statements are not only dangerous but undermine democracy and safety in Portugal.
Pedro Pinto’s Statement
Pedro Pinto’s comments that he made during a televised interview have drawn the most outrage. He said by referring to riots and disturbances in response to Moniz’s death that the country will be more in order if police shot more to kill. Critics argue that Pinto’s words suggest that police should kill to maintain order even outside the law.
The complaint claims that Pinto’s remarks can encourage police to misuse their firearms. It says he is calling for summary executions which are illegal and violate international human rights standards. Many Portuguese citizens are disturbed by these comments.
Van Dunem said to Diário de Notícias:
A limit has been reached. No democrat can fail to be outraged by these statements. My conscience obliges me to take a stand against those who take advantage of this climate to call for hatred and more violence. I am going to sign the complaint, which I hope will be signed by as many people as possible
The complaint claims that Pinto’s remarks can encourage police to misuse their firearms. Many Portuguese citizens are disturbed by these comments.
The complaint stated:
The suspect Pedro Pinto encouraged – and knows that he did so – agents of the security forces to improperly use the weapons given to them by the Portuguese Republic, on behalf of all citizens, to kill other fellow citizens on the public highway, through summary executions that are prohibited by the Constitution and by all international texts in defence of human rights
Ventura’s Support The Officer
Ventura’s comments focused on the officer involved in the shooting. His statement suggests he supports the officer’s actions and does not see the shooting as an issue.
Ventura said:
We shouldn’t make this man an accused; we should thank this policeman for the work he did. We should decorate him and not make him an accused, threaten to prosecute him or threaten to arrest him.
The complaint argues that Ventura’s praise can create a dangerous misunderstanding of the law among the public. He should know that police are not allowed to use firearms against citizens without clear justification. Critics argue that Ventura’s words can make people believe that police can shoot anyone who disobeys them.
Complaint also stated:
André Ventura (…) knows that by publicly praising a police act that led to the death of a citizen (…) he creates the conviction among people who do not have specialised legal knowledge that the security forces can use firearms whenever a citizen disrespects an order issued by them, including an arrest order
Controversial Social Media Posts By Ricardo Reis
In addition to Ventura and Pinto’s statements, comments from CHEGA’s parliamentary advisor Ricardo Reis have also caused controversy.
Reis posted messages online that praised the officer involved in Moniz’s death. He wrote:
The only word is this: thank you to the officer who made the streets safer!” and “one less criminal… one less elected Bloco [Left] member
Reis quickly deleted these posts but they were widely shared and have drew backlash. The complaint argues that such statements are harmful to society. It suggests that these remarks foster mistrust and create tension especially in a time of unrest.
The complaint against CHEGA has gained support across Portugal’s political spectrum. Many well-known figures such as social democrat João Maria Jonet, political commentators Daniel Oliveira and Pedro Marques Lopes, former PSD vice-president André Coelho Lima, and PS Member of Parliament Isabel Moreira,have signed it. This broad support shows that many Portuguese are concerned by CHEGA’s remarks regardless of political views.
