Brazil commission vets independence book, removes 'military dictatorship' term

A special commission within Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has controversially vetoed the use of the term "military dictatorship" in a book intended for publication by the Chamber's own press. The commission, established to oversee bicentennial commemorations, also proposed excising entire paragraphs from the work, which focuses on Brazil's independence. The targeted sections reportedly include discussions on indigenous rights, a comparison between Brazil and Haiti, and even a reference to a 2019 samba school theme. The book, a compilation of texts from 2022-2023, is a project involving the National History Association (ANPUH) and other academic bodies. Historians involved have decried the commission's actions as censorship and an attempt to distort interpretations of the past. They argue that the proposed cuts aim to professional disqualification of researchers. The Chamber of Deputies, in a statement, indicated that discussions on adjustments were held but no final version suitable for institutional publication was reached. They also asserted that the commission's proposals do not guarantee publication, emphasizing the editorial autonomy of their publishing house. The Chamber did not directly respond when questioned by Folha about the appropriateness of the suggested changes, including the removal of the word "dictatorship."

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Censorship in itself is always an absurd thing, but in this case, there is also an attempt at professional disqualification of the people involved, who are researchers working on these themes.