Writer Ruffato Links Brazil to Genocide, Impunity and Intolerance in a Speech Delivered in Frankfurt

10/09/2013 - 08h43

The opening of Brazil's participation in the Frankfurt Book Fair on Tuesday afternoon (October 8) was marked by a strong speech delivered by contemporary writer Luiz Ruffato, in which he argued that Brazil was born under the auspices of genocide, that so-called racial democracy in the country was done through rape and that impunity and intolerance reign in Brazil.

Mastrangelo Reino/Folhapress

The speech by the novelist, carried out in the main hall of the German Event in front of 2,000 people, including German political leaders and Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer, also stressed the 37,000 annual murders in the country.

The speech by the novelist, carried out in the main hall of the German Event in front of 2,000 people, including German political leaders and Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer, also stressed the 37,000 annual murders in the country, the 550,000 prisoners and the high illiteracy rate.

Before concluding, Ruffato stated that the country had been making some progress in recent years and emphasized the "Transformative power of literature", exemplified by his beginnings: he said he is the son of an illiterate washerwoman and a semi-literate popcorn seller.

His approximately 10-minute speech received a standing ovation and raucous applause from some in attendance.

After speeches by politicians such as German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle at the closing of the event - who praised Ruffato's discourse and urged that Brazil be offered a permanent seat on the UN Security Council - a talk given by Vice President Michel Temer ended in boos.

He then spoke of his relationship with literature. "I will never abandon literature. Reading sharpened my thinking. Thanks to this, I was able to reach this stage," he said, prior to advertising his own recently published poems from the book titled "Anonima Intimidade" (Intimate Anonymity) published by Topbooks. "I did not receive praise, nor did I receive criticism."
p(tagline). Translated by STEVE HUGHES

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