Cid’s cell phone: Army says ‘personal comments do not represent the Force’ and talks about taking ‘appropriate measures’

2023-06-16 20:08:43

State institution also reinforced ‘historic commitment’ with society and respect for constitutional precepts; conversations between the former adjutant and orders with the colonel show plans for a coup d’état

Fernando Souza/AFPFrom left to right) President-elect of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, Minister of the Superior Military Court (STM), General Luis Carlos Gomes Mattos, and Army General Mauro Cesar Lorena Cid talk during the graduation ceremony of new paratroopers at the Parachute Infantry Battalion Vila Militar, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 24, 2018.

O Brazilian army said this Friday, the 16th, that talks between Mauro Cidformer assistant to the former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), and Colonel Jean Lawand Junior “do not represent the thinking of the chain of command” of the institution, nor “the official positioning of the Force”. In a note sent to Jovem Pan’s website, the institution claims that, as a non-partisan entity, the Army “always strives for legality and respect for constitutional precepts” and reinforced that, in the administrative sphere, the appropriate measures are already being adopted, without detailing what they would be. “Recent events only confirm and prove the legalistic attitude of the Army of Caxias. Any individual conduct judged to be irregular will be dealt with in court, observing due process of law,” says the statement. “Aware of its constitutional mission and historic commitment to Brazilian society, the Army reaffirms its responsibility for the faithful observance of legal precepts and preservation of ethical principles and moral values”, he concludes.

The Army demonstration takes place after the disclosure of dialogues, present in a Federal Police report and found on Mauro Cid’s cell phone, which show a conversation with Colonel Jean Lawand Junior, of the Army General Staff, who encouraged the carrying out of a coup d’état . “For God’s sake, Cidão. For God’s sake, do something, man. Convince him to do it. He can’t back down now. He has nothing to lose. He will be arrested. The president will be arrested. And, worse, in Papuda, man”, said Lawand Junior in an audio of December 1, 2022, released by the magazine “ Veja”. According to a report in the magazine, in the conversation, Cid replied: “Cid replied: “But the PR [Presidente da República] he cannot give an order… If he does not trust the ACE”, referring to the Army High Command. “Then screwed. It will have to be for the people themselves”, countered Lawand. The following day, the colonel sent a new message to Cid, also about the alleged coup: if the “EB [Exército Brasileiro] receive the order, fulfill promptly. In its own way, the EB will do nothing because it will be seen as a coup. So it’s in the hands of the PR [presidente]”. The last exchange of messages took place on December 21, 2022, when Jean Lawand Junior wrote: “I just found out that nothing will come out. Disappointment brother. We handed over the country to the bandits.” And Cid replied, “Unfortunately.”