This is a new world report with my good colleagues for Joseph U.S.M. our Executive Director,

Secure Free Society, Ernesto

Arruja, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Brazil.

Ernesto, you've made available to Joseph and myself a letter dated June 21st,

2004 from Congressman Chris Smith of the House of Representatives

addressed to the Supreme Tribunal Federal in Brasilia. the

judicial of the judiciary of the Brazilian Republic.

On May 7th, I chaired a public hearing of the subcommittee

entitled Brazil, a crisis of democracy of democracy freedom and rule of law

rights the congressman. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the alarming

reports of widespread human rights violations committed by Brazilian officials

including judicial misconduct, persecution of political opposition,

suppression of free speech, and the silencing of opposition media. The letter goes on from there, but that's

quite a bill of particulars. One, are you surprised by this and two, what happens next?

This is a challenge.

It is very important, John.

This is at top of the news today in Brazil because as I said before the US, the United States is the beacon of hope for people who fight for democracy

and this shows the importance of the US in that regard, in this case not the executive, but the US Congress. So finally the all the abuses of

human rights practice by basically by the Supreme Court in Brazil have come to the attention of

Congress with this hearing May the 7th and now Congressman Chris Smith a very important

Congressman head of the Human Rights Subcommittee, is taking this as an important subject for him.

So first, well, this is a letter.

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