Brazilian Intelligence Agency

The Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Agência Brasileira de Inteligência; ABIN) is the successor organization to the Serviço Nacional de Informações (SNI) or National Intelligence Service formed during the government of Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco in the mid-1960s.

Initially intended to be a civilian agency, the SNI was quickly co-opted by the military and each branch of the armed forces (army, air force and navy) continued to operate independent intelligence services. Through the Destacamento de Operações de Informações—Centro de Operações de Defesa Interna (DOI-CODI) The SNI is believed to have participated with the CIA and the intelligence agencies of other Latin American nations in Operation Condor, intended to oppose the spread of left-wing ideologies and communism throughout the region.

In another attempt to bring intelligence agencies under the control of the civilian-led government as part of the process of democratization begun in Brazil in 1985, President Fernando Collor de Mello replaced the SNI with the shortlived (1990–94) Secretaria de Assuntos Estratégicos (SAE) or Strategic Affairs Secretariat. However, despite the dismissal of 144 SNI officers, the agency contained to be dominated by the military and effective oversight and control of the country's intelligence activities eluded the civilian government.

Current agency

In 1995 President Fernando Henrique Cardoso placed a civilian at the head of the SAE and subsequently created ABIN. Like many other Latin American nations, Brazil faces the challenge of having to overcome a long history of involvement by the military and their related intelligence arms in domestic politics. Early on, ABIN was tainted by a wiretapping and influence peddling scandal that led to the agency being placed under the direct control of the President and the Institutional Security Cabinet rather than being responsible to the national Congress. This had once again undermined the attempt to reduce the influence of the military on Brazilian intelligence agencies and their practises.

However, successive governments have taken a number of steps to reduce the influence of the armed forces and related intelligence agencies in domestic politics. The relationships between these groups and government in Brazil, so closely intertwined for decades, is evolving. The focus of intelligence agencies appears to be moving slowly from managing internal dissent to focusing on external threats and support of the nation's democracy.

Wiretapping Suspensions

On 1st September 2008 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suspended the leadership of the organisation, including its director Paulo Lacerda, and ordered an investigation into allegations that appeared in Veja magazine of phone tapping of senior figures including the heads of both the Senate and the Supreme Court.

Current functions

ABIN's main function is to investigate real and potential threats to the Brazilian society and government and defend the Democratic State of Law, the Brazilian sovereignty and the effectiveness of the public power.

Motto

The ABIN motto is "Intelligence for the defense of society, of the democratic Rule of Law and of national interests" (A Inteligência em defesa da sociedade, do Estado Democrático de Direito e dos interesses nacionais).

See also

• Brazilian Federal Police
• National Public Security Force
• Military of Brazil
• Ministry of Defence of Brazil

Notes and references

External links

• ABIN Official site