Brazil's president attends military ceremony
(18 Apr 2019) Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro participated in a military ceremony on Thursday, in celebration of Brazilian Army Day. Bolsonaro joined military officials at the South Eastern Military Command Headquarters in Sao Pauto to watch hundreds of soldier march to the tune of a military band. Addressing the soldiers, Bolsonaro highlighted the era of Brazil's dictatorship, when after overthrowing President Joao Goulart on March 31, 1964, the Brazilian armed forces took control of the country until 1985. "My life was marked in the 1970s, during difficult times in our nation," he said. "And I'm proudly here." Bolsonaro, a former army captain who waxes nostalgic for the 1964-1985 military regime and a fierce anti-communist, caused a commotion in Brazil when he asked the Defense Ministry to organise "due commemorations" on March 31. Historians have labelled this day a coup that began the dictatorship, which supporters call a "military government." Brazil's federal prosecutor's office strongly criticised Bolsonaro's move, saying that under international criminal law Brazil's dictators "had committed crimes against humanity." A 2014 report by the country's truth commission concluded that at least 434 people were killed or disappeared during the military regime Bolsonaro repeatedly praises. "More than anything, I love this army, our army that during every difficult moment of our nation, has stood by the nation's side," Bolsonaro told the armed forces on Thursday. Bolsonaro also reiterated his pledge to create military schools across the country. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/102011028589719587178/+APArchive Tumblr: https://aparchives.tumblr.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4eabc4f6599fb111bb10327c24fe9630
