Lula says that traffickers ‘are victims of drug users’ and that it would be ‘easier’ to fight addicts

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) caused controversy this Friday (24) during a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia. When talking about fighting drugs, the PT member said that drug dealers are “victims of users” and that it would be “easier” for Brazil and the United States to “fight addicts.” Lula made the statement when asked about statements by US President Donald Trump, who said a declaration of war was not necessary to kill drug traffickers. “Everyone, when we talk about fighting drugs, it would possibly be easier for us to fight our addicts internally, the users. The users are responsible for the drug dealers, who are victims of the users too,” said Lula. “In other words, you have an exchange of people who sell because there are people who buy, and there are people who buy because there are people who sell”, added the president. In the PT member’s assessment, greater “care” is needed from countries in the fight against drugs. Lula’s statement, made during the early hours of the morning in Brazil, had negative repercussions and has been criticized by parliamentarians opposing the government. The leader of the PL in the Chamber, Sóstenes Cavalcante (RJ), for example, stated that the Lula administration “prefers to cover up crime”. “It’s unbelievable. The man who governs the country defends those who destroy families, those who fill cemeteries and those who spread violence in the streets. For him, the criminal is the victim and the good citizen is the culprit”, declared Sóstenes on a social network. Attack on boats Lula treats it as a certain meeting with Trump in Malaysia and lists points he intends to negotiate In the same interview, Lula said he does not agree with attacks and invasions of other countries with the justification of combating drug trafficking. For Lula, if Donald Trump wants, they will also discuss, during a possible meeting, the United States attacks on boats off the coast of Venezuela. The Trump administration has been waging an offensive in the Caribbean Sea with the argument of targeting drug traffickers on their way to the United States. The American president also admitted to having authorized secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the country of Nicolás Maduro. For the Brazilian president, “if the world becomes a lawless land, it will be very difficult.” Lula suggested as an alternative that the US be willing to talk to the police and justice ministries of other countries. “If fashion catches on, each one thinks they can invade the other’s territory to do what they want. Where will the word respectability for the sovereignty of countries appear? So I intend to discuss these issues with President Trump if he puts it on the table”, argued the PT member. Lula says he will talk to Trump about tariffs and sanctions on ministers: ‘I want to prove that there was a mistake’ Lula gives an interview to journalists during a trip to Indonesia Ricardo Stuckert / PR

Source link