Commentary on Lucia Villela's and Bernard Rubin's Papers

I have read with much attention and interest the papers by Lucia Villela and Bernard Rubin on torture in Brazil. These are two rigorous papers that give an account of the events that took place in the Sociedade Psicanalitica do Rio de Janeiro (SPRJ, or Rio 1) from 1973 up until the present time. During this period Amilcar Lobo and Leao Cabernite participated in torture, the former assisting as a doctor while the torture was conducted and the latter abetting and hiding the former. These two papers are faithful to the facts in question and I am in general agreement with them. However, some reflections on these issues might be appropriate.

It was at the request of Lic. Edward Emery that I wish to give here a testimony of my own involvement in this dark history when I was president of the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA), between 1993 and 1997. Even though what I am going to say is already known and is well documented—and is in part taken up by the authors of the papers—it may be worthwhile to remember some of the facts and show what was done over those years and what could not be finalized in that time.

I took office as president of the IPA during the 38th International Congress at Amsterdam in July 1993. On this occasion, as is customary, there was a meeting of the Executive Council, still under the presidency of Joseph Sandler. This was the last meeting of Dr. Sandler's presidency and, on this occasion, on July 27th, the Council passed the following resolution:

This Executive Council of the IPA, taking into account all the circumstances, has resolved that the Rio de Janeiro Psychoanalytic