President of the STM asks for forgiveness for the crimes of the dictatorship in Herzog’s act

The president of the Superior Military Court, Maria Elizabeth Rochaasked for forgiveness to those killed, disappeared and tortured by the military regime, extending the gesture to their families, in the interreligious act that remembered the murder of journalist Vladimir Herzog.

The act is historic.

This is the first time that a head of Military Justice – a position linked to the leadership of the Armed Forces – apologizes for the violence and repression of the Brazilian state against civilians during the military regime, between 1964 and 1985.

Maria Elizabeth Rocha also asked for forgiveness for the judicial errors committed in the cases against opponents of the dictatorship.

Maria Elizabeth Goulart’s words speak for themselves: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am present at this ecumenical act of 2025 to, as president of the Military Justice of the Union, ask forgiveness from all who fell and suffered fighting for freedom. I ask forgiveness for the errors and judicial omissions committed during the dictatorship. I ask forgiveness from Vladimir Herzog and his family, from Paulo Ribeiro Bastos and my family, from Rubens Paiva and Miriam Leitão and their children, from José Dirceu, Aldo Arantes, José Genoino, Paulo Vanucchi, João Vicente Goulart and so many other men and women who suffered torture, deaths, forced disappearances and exile. Finally, I ask forgiveness from Brazilian society and the country’s history for the judicial errors committed by the Federal Military Justice to the detriment of democracy and in favor of the authoritarian regime. Receive my forgiveness, my pain and my resistance.”

Thank you, Maria Elizabeth Rocha.