The period known as the Military Dictatorship lasted from 1964 to 1985. During this interval, several investigations and testimonies pointed out physical and psychological torture as a tactic used by government members and military groups to control the population.
Thus, I will present, in this list, the 10 most well-known types of torture used during the Military Regime.
The Tortures
Pau-de-Arara
Pau-de-Arara consisted of an iron bar inserted between bound wrists and the bend of the knee, with the set placed between two tables, leaving the body of the tortured person hanging about 20 or 30 centimeters from the ground. This method was almost never used in isolation; its usual complements were electric shocks, the paddle, and drowning.
Electric Shock
Electric Shock was one of the cruelest and widely used torture methods during the military regime. Generally, the shock was delivered through a field telephone of the army, which had two long wires that were connected to the naked body, usually in the genital areas, as well as ears, teeth, tongue, and fingers. The accused received successive discharges, often leading to collapse.
Pimentinha
Pimentinha was a machine consisting of a wooden box inside which was a permanent magnet, around which a combined rotor rotated, from whose terminals a brush collected electric current that was conducted through wires. This machine delivered shocks of around 100 volts to the accused.
Drowning
In Drowning, torturers closed the prisoner's nostrils and inserted a hose, wet towel, or rubber tube into the accused's mouth to force them to swallow water. Another method was to immerse the head of the tortured person in a bucket, tank, or barrel full of water (or even feces), forcing their neck down to the drowning limit.
Dragon's Chair
Dragon's Chair was a kind of electric chair, where prisoners sat naked on a chair lined with zinc connected to electrical terminals. When the device was connected to electricity, the zinc transmitted shocks throughout the body. Often, torturers would place a metal bucket on the victim's head, where shocks were also applied.
Refrigerator
In the Refrigerator, prisoners were left naked in a low and small cell, preventing them from standing. Then, torturers alternated between a super-cold cooling system and a heating system that produced unbearable heat, while speakers emitted irritating sounds. Prisoners remained in the "refrigerator" for several days without water or food.
Paddle
The Paddle was like a heavy wooden racket. Generally, this instrument was used in conjunction with other forms of torture to increase the accused's suffering. With the paddle, victims were assaulted in various parts of the body, especially their genital organs.
Chemical Products
There were several Chemical Products that were proven to be used as torture methods. To make the accused confess, pentothal serum, a substance that made the person talk in a drowsy state, was applied. In some cases, acid was thrown on the victim's face, which could cause swelling or even permanent disfigurement.
Physical Assaults
Various types of Physical Assaults were combined with other forms of torture. One of the cruelest was the popular "telephone." With both hands cupped, the torturer slapped simultaneously against the prisoner's two ears. The technique was so brutal that it could rupture the accused's eardrums and cause permanent deafness.
Psychological Torture
In a way, talking about Psychological Torture is redundant, considering that every type of torture leaves emotional scars that can last a lifetime. However, there were forms of torture that had the specific goal of provoking fear, such as threats and persecutions that generated a double effect: making the victim remain silent or denounce acquaintances.
Reproduction: Historiadigital.org | Michel Goulart
