Recently transferred to the reserve while holding the post of Chief of Staff of the Army (number two in the corporation), General Richard Fernandez Nunes states that resisting the attacks was “the only plausible and imaginable posture for a military leader”.
In an interview with Sheetthe official, today (Management and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System), says that the obligation of military leaders “with the responsibility that I and others had [integrava o Alto Comando do Exército] at that moment [após a vitória de Lula e com as pressões por um golpe] was to remain strictly in accordance with the country’s legislation and in strict compliance with legal duty”.
General Richard – nom de guerre by which he is called – was one of the most influential figures in the main Armed Force in recent years. Before becoming chief of the General Staff, he was commander of the Army Command and General Staff School (Eceme), secretary of Public Security of RJ during the , head of the Social Communication Center, military commander of the Northeast and head of the Department of Education and Culture, among other functions.
Amid the political turmoil that began after Lula’s victory over Bolsonaro in the second round, which culminated in the , Bolsonaro supporters attacked Richard and other members of the Army High Command to prevent the elected president from taking office.
Even though part of them identified with Bolsonarist ideas and shared criticism of the Judiciary and the press made by supporters of the then president, they were called by the accusers “” – green on the outside, due to the color of the Army uniform, and red on the inside (supposedly communists).
Asked if military leaders were not conniving with the politicization of the , by joining the Bolsonaro government or by encouraging the coup camps in front of the barracks, Richard replied that legalism was the only way out, and added:
“I did this [se manteve na legalidade]and if this provided critical narratives from certain discontented people, who normally do not recognize having done anything wrong, then be patient”, declared the general.
“My conscience is very clear that I and my commander at that moment [foram três no período mais turbulento, Freire Gomes, Arruda e Tomás] We take the actions we should take and continue on this same path throughout our lives. I think this is an ethical issue, of having integrity and doing what is right, what you have been taught to do since you joined the Army.”
General Richard – who retired in August and took over Censipam in September – declined to comment on the Federal Supreme Court’s decision.
“This is a matter that has always been in the judicial sphere, and those who should give an opinion on this are those who work in the Public Ministry or the Judiciary. It is not up to me to make any type of comment in this regard.”
Appointed from the State of Rio de Janeiro in 2018 by the intervener, during the federal intervention in the sector, Richard also did not want to comment on the recent police operation in the Penha and Alemão complexes.
“I no longer follow public security in Rio de Janeiro, except as a citizen who follows it through the media, so it’s difficult to give an opinion when you don’t understand the intricacies and information necessary to make a decision.”
The general, however, noted that, in the center he currently heads – a geointelligence body whose self-declared objective is to “promote environmental protection and sustainable development” through data capture – combating illicit activities in the Amazon and on the borders is relevant.
“It is one of our key points of action. We are implementing the Integrated Geointelligence Laboratory, to model the organized crime networks that operate in the Amazon. So yes, my experience counts. I have no doubt that organized crime factions can only be fought with sophistication in both the intelligence and operational aspects.”
