Designed for the exclusive use of VJ Enterprises
© 1996
byVitorio Pacaccini and Ubirajara Franco Rodrigues
PART 1 - by Ubirajara Franco Rodrigues.
The Saturday that the ET capture took place, January 20th ë96, I wasnít in Varginha. The day after, Jan 21st, I arrived at about 10: 30 a.m. and received a call from a storekeeper who owns a shop in the center of the town, Mr. Milton. He asked if I had knowledge of what happened the day before and told me that ... some girls had seen a weird animal, something like a little monster. (...)That same night, as I realized that the rumour was already spread throughout the city, I called Milton again to get further details. (...) An employee of his shop would have more information. (...) She knew the people that had seen the strange being. (...) The girls live at Rua TapajÛs [TapajÛs Street] , Varginha, to where I went. (...) I asked a near storekeeper if she knew the girls, she said so, adding that "she had also observed the movement around that area regarding the case". This lady said she was friend of Luisa (the girlsí mother) and that she was told the girls arrived at home scared, that afternoon. They were screaming, crying and shaking. They had seen something very ugly. (...)
Meanwhile, the rumours continue to spread through the city. Some people said the creature had been captured and taken to the "Hospital Regional" [Regional Hospital], that it had a big belly, seemed to be pregnant, and made a noise, like if it was crying. (...)
FIRST WEEK OF INVESTIGATIONS - I began to investigate and was helped by a friend (...) , SÈrgio, director of TV Princesa, a local TV station. Weíve got access to a boy that said he was present at the capture. But his words didnít make any sense, he was too childish, and very confused. (...) We also have got access to a woman, which runned away the moment we approached her. Her husband tried to convince her to give us some info, but she refused. (...)
Finally, we found the girls and took their testimony. They were two sisters whose mother, Mrs.Luisa, received me a little suspicious. I identified myself as an UFO researcher and lawyer, and explained my interest in the situation. (...) Iíve got extremely impressed with what they told me, specially the older girl, Liliane, 16. When she was telling me what happened, she burst into tears. (...) Then, I asked them to introduce me to the third witness : her friend, Katia, 22, that also cried when we met.
I asked them to take me to the place where all had happened. (...) They told that when they were in the middle of that pathway, they saw a strange being squatted in the ground (...). To ValquÌria, the younger, "that appeared to be a giant ox heart". (...) They realized that it was something out-of-this-world, when they returned to the street and went away, running.
(...) After hearing all the story from her daughters, LuÌsa returned to the place to see if she could find any evidence, but she didnít. (...) LuÌsa felt a strange smell, very strong and impossible to be compared to anything else. The following days, I kept on talking to them, and asked them to repeat several times what they had seen.
AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL AT THE HOSPITAL - This procedure is common in researches, because it helps to find contradictions in the testimonies. (...) Meanwhile, the rumours continued to spread, increase, and gained consistency in Varginha. The whole city started to comment on the story. (...) In Varginha, there are three hospitals, however the rumours converged only to the Regional Hospital. It wasnít possible to be sure of anything, specially about which hospital would be involved with the fact. Everything was obscure, UNTIL I MANAGED TO TALK TO A NURSE OF REGIONAL HOSPITAL (which name cannot be revealed, in order to preserve her safety). She was very reluctant to receive and talk to me until, finally, she accepted to be interviewed. SHE REVEALED THAT, ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 21st , A STRANGE MOVEMENT OCCURRED AT HOSPITAL REGIONAL. THE FACT INVOLVED PHYSICIANS COMING FROM OUT OF VARGINHA, THE MILITARY POLICE AND ARMY VEHICLES. However, she didnít speak a word about the Fire Department. (...) ONE OF THE HOSPITAL SECTIONS, according to our source, WAS CLOSED FOR SOME HOURS, IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ACCESS OF EMPLOYEES, PATIENTS AND VISITORS. She also said that, on Monday, January 22nd, she was called, together with other employees, for a MEETING AT THE DIRECTOR'S ROOM. According to her testimony, the director said that all that movement should be ignored, because "it was just a training for the doctors and military personnel". (...)
According to this witness, the meeting culminated with the following statement from the director : "Here in Varginha there is people who likes to deal with 'cool' things, I mean, supernatural, strange ... It is probable that these people will look for you, specially that lawyer, Ubirajara. TO THESE PEOPLE, YOU MUST DENY EVERYTHING. I mean , do deny".
Later, I spoke to a former pupil of mine, who said she had been at the hospital entrance hall that Sunday, by 10: 30 p.m., together with a friend of her. She asked the receptionist if it was true what the rumours said about the ìlittle monsterî received at the hospital. The employee CONFIRMED , saying that the being wasnít there anymore, because it had been removed to another city hospital, the ìHumanitasî. So, the women went there, too. Now, they were attended by a nurse who told them the following: ìYOU CANNOT GO INSIDE TO SEE 'THAT'AND, EVEN IF YOU COULD, I WOULDN'T ADVISE YOU TO ... YOU WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE IT".
The same time, some parallel witnesses, which live in Humanitas region, said they had seen troops movements at the lateral gate. This was everything I knew then. It was necessary to have stronger evidences. So I tried the military area, firstly Commander Mauricio, from the Military Police. When I met him, I identified myself and explained the situation. I asked him if he had knowledge of the rumours that the MP was involved in the capture case. His answer was negative.
He, then, offered to check it out , and verified that there were no records of such occurrence. Even thus, he asked me to contact him again, because perhaps he would find something. The next day, as it was scheduled, I called Commander Mauricio, but he didnít attend me. I MADE ABOUT 50 PHONE CALLS TO THE QUARTER, BUT WASN'T ATTENDED. So I began to feel that something was wrong. THEY WERE HIDING SOMETHING.
A friend of mine managed to talk to a policewoman that was on duty at Saturday, January 20th, receiving the emergency calls, thru the number 190 [Note from translator : similar to 911 in the U.S.] . She revealed there were some calls: "IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE CALLED SAYING THAT THEY SAW SUCH A LITTLE MONSTER, BUT WE THOUGHT THEY WERE KIDDING AND WE DIDN'T GIVE ATTENTION TO THEM." (...)
SEEKING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - Me and SÈrgio looked for the local Fire Brigade and we were received by Captain Alvarenga. (...) The moment we identify ourselves, he got the bulletin of ocurrences for Jan. 20th, in order to ëproofí there were no requests for the capture of a strange animal, or something. HE SIMPLY HAD A DEFFENSIVE ATTITUDE REGARDING US.
During the interview, I excused myself and made a brief pause to drink some water, at the end of the corridor. I saw there two firemen talking, speaking loudly and fluently, as if they were making fun of me : ìYEAH, IT SHOULD BE A GIANT FROG", one said. ìNO, IT SHOULD BE A DEMON, HA HA HA", completed the other.
(...) We followed to the Forest Police, where we were received in a very different manner. Their captain was friendly and said he likes Ufology. (...) He stated that the Forest Police werenít called at that occasion, but put himself on the line to share any further information.
We came back again to the nurse. (...) She spoke with her colleagues in the hospital and, although they hadnít seen anything, they were all unanimous in state that there were a strange movement that day. (...)
Meanwhile, the information that a strange being appeared in Varginha had already taken the local media. All the local press, newspapers, radio and TV stations had already covered the case, although I had my doubts about spreading the case in the [brazilian] national media. (...) Nevertheless, due to the difficulties of the investigation and the big cover-up, there was no other choice than calling the national media. Only this way we could pressure the authorities.
The same occasion, I was interviewed live at the request of Globo TV Network (local branch) . Everything was going normal (...). In the middle of the program, however, something we werenít expecting happened. The reporter took two faxes from over the table and talked : WE JUST RECEIVED RIGHT NOW A COMMUNICATION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ANOTHER ONE FROM THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL, DENYING EVERYTHING. THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS SAY THEY WEREN'T CALLED AND HAD NO INVOLVEMENT WITH IT". Part of the Fire Brigade fax did the following statement : ìTHIS CORPORATION COMMUNICATES THE PEOPLE OF VARGINHA THAT WAS NOT CALLED TO CAPTURE AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL." This was said in the middle of the news.
I said, firstly, that I never affirmed the captured being was alien. I ' ve said only that it was an unknown and strange being. Iím very careful with the words. (...) I made use of that chance and said that the UFO cover-up is such a thing that exists all over the world and started a long time ago.
After this interview, I decided to call the national media. (...) I called the ufologist Irene Granchi, in Rio de Janeiro, who contacted the journalism production of Globo TV Network [Note from translator : Globo TV is the major brazilian TV network]. Since then, the case blew wide open in the [brazilian] media. (...)
At the end of the second week of investigations, I called ìRevista UFOî [UFO Magazine] and let them know the facts. In the third week, a researcher from Belo Horizonte (up to then member of CICOANI - Centro de InvestigaÁ“o Civil sobre Objetos AÈreos N“o Identificados - Unidentified Aerial Objects Civilian Investigation Center) made contact with me. It was Vitorio Pacaccini. Since then we established a partnership in the researches, that now lasts over four months. (...)
PART 2 - by Vitorio Pacaccini
Before the Varginha Case appears in the media, I didnít know Ubirajara yet. (...) At first, I was investigating the case for CICOANI and had already contacted some people I knew from TrÍs CoraÁžes, MG [State of Minas Gerais] in order to gather information about the case, specially at ESA (Escola de Sargentos das Armas - Army Sergeants School). This happened in the beginning of February. On Wednesday, in the carnival week, I received a call from a source who said that ìit was time to the jaguar to drink the waterî. In our language, it means that some important witness was about to talk.The name of the witness, by now and for a while, cannot be revealed. I donít want to put anybody in jail or harm peopleís lives. (...)
So, on this Wednesday, I went to a friendís home where he introduced me to the first witness. (...) After some minutes of conversation, this military began to speak about the subject.
FIRE FIGHTERS ARE REALLY INVOLVED - Everyone in Brazil knows that when there is a problem with animals, like a wild beast escaping from the Zoo, for instance, the Fire Department is called. (...) However, the first phone number that comes to oneís mind in a danger situation is 190 (the police number). So, weíve concluded that firstly the police were called and then, they forwarded it to the Fire Brigade.
According to our source, in the morning of January 20th, the Fire Dept. phone was ringing over and over. It was people informing the appearance of a weird animal in a certain region in Varginha, and requesting some attitude, to catch it. It is important to emphasize that these phone calls started very early that morning, between 7 and 8 a.m., consequently before 3 p.m., when the girls sighted the creature.
In the occasion, the man in charge was Major Maciel, who would have sent four men to check the situation. These firemen, at the moment they arrived there, called the major thru the radio and asked him to go there too, once the case was much more complicated than it seemed before. "MAJOR, YOU'D BETTER COME HERE, SIR . EVEN THE ARMY IS ALREADY HERE." So, the Major followed to the place, approximately at 10,30 a.m. .
When they reached there, the capture had already been done. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN WHO THROWED SOME STONES TOWARDS THE CREATURE. (...) The four firemen (...) caught the being with a net (similar to that used to catch dogs). They were using common gloves, but were afraid of radiation. The creature didnít show any reaction, staying totally apathetic and letting himself to be caught. It made a noise similar to the bees buzzing. It was put in a canvas-covered box and transported by an Army truck.
THIS WITNESS IS EXTREMELY TRUSTWORTHY, KNOWS EVERYONE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GOT ACCESS TO SEVERAL CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. However, he is very afraid of revealing what he knows even to his closest people, due to the dangerous situation.
According to the description, the creature had sticky skin (seeming to have put an oil on the body), red eyes, big head with protuberances, long and thin arms, short and thin legs, big feet and a big salience at the abdomen. It had no kind of clothing, as well as no apparent genitals. In the ESA truck that conducted the being, there were two seargents and one major, ALL OF THEM WITH 'GAŽCHO' ACCENT [Note from T.: ga™cho = somebody who was born or lives in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul] . All these information were given in a 45-minute interview. The witness was emphatic, saying that the Fire Department command had knowledge of the whole operation, and that Captain Alvarenga simply lied when he said he didnít receive any notification.
All of this reveals that somebody is lying in this case and it seems that itís not the witnesses ... - because they wouldnít gain anything with it. (...)
I MADE CONTACT WITH OTHER MILITARY WITNESSES FROM TR S CORA«¹ES IN SECRET MEETINGS. ONE OF THEM, BY THE WAY, WENT TO MY HOUSE AT 3 A.M. TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE. HE EXPLAINED TO ME HOW THE ARMY'S SECRET SERVICE WORKS.
It has a very-well-implanted unity in the city, with people taking turns over and over, in order not to be recognized. These ìS-2î, as they are known, blend with the civilians, often use mustaches, long hairs, drive old cars and behave as civilians.This one that came to my house said the capture had been extremely favorable to the Army, because it happened in a weekend (when ESA stays practically empty, only with guards) and also due to the fact that the secret service members could enter or leave at any time, without giving explanation to anybody. Inside ESA, there is a shed where the S-2 works, surrounded by enormous security. Even the quarterís officers have no access to that place. (...)
Weíve had a good support from the media, (...) which is trying to show the facts as they are. If the media, or I should better say, part of it, like Luiz Petry (director of "FANT¡STICO" [ìFantasticoî - a brazilian popular TV show, aired by Globo Network] ), didnít run for it, seeking information, everything would have finished with no explanation. (...)
UFOs FLYING OVER SOUTHERN MINAS GERAIS - While the Varginha case blew wide open in national press, it began a big UFO wave over the region. Cities such as Varginha, Alfenas, Boa EsperanÁa, TrÍs CoraÁžes, Bandeira do Sul, S“o GonÁalo do SapucaÌ, Campanha and many others were taken by unidentified objects sightings. The population noticed that something serious was happening and several people came to us reporting sightings, contacts or recent news about the capture.
At that time, end of February, I met an old friend that I hadn't seen for a long time. HE KNEW A MILITARY THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THE CAPTURE OPERATION. WE MANAGED TO MEET HIM AND HEARD HIS REPORT. THE MORE HE REVEALED, THE MORE EVERYTHING BECAME INCREDIBLE. THIS MILITARY MAN GAVE THE NAMES OF PEOPLE DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE CASE: Colonel OlÌmpio Vanderlei and Sergeant Pedrosa. THE INTERVIEW WITH THIS EYE WITNESS OF THE FACTS WAS MADE BY ME AND UFOLOGIST MARCO A. PETIT, AND RECORDED IN VIDEO AS A GUARANTEE OF PROOF. In this tape, we ask the witness if there is the possibility of somebody attempting against his life, and he said so . (...)
More witnesses are discovered. Later, WE MANAGED TO CONTACT ANOTHER MILITARY WITNESS. He was very reluctant in speaking with us, but when he realized the subject was already spreaded, he got courage to tell what he knew. For his surprise, nobody at ESA knew anything, BECAUSE THERE WAS A DISINFORMATION OPERATION INSIDE THE SERGEANT'S SCHOOL ITSELF. Talking with us, he described the fact exactly the same way that the other did before.
Only few people inside ESA know details of the operation. (...) Everything there is top secret. The school's military contingent is over 3.000 men and, for sure, about 98 % of them don't know anything.(...) THERE ARE ALSO OTHER MILITARY WITNESSES WHICH CONFIRM THE INFORMATION WE HAVE. WE KNOW TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE CATCH AND TRANSPORT OF THE BEING. Obviously, they cannot be identified, because their lives would be in danger. (...)
NAMES OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED - After we placed together all the information on the case, we obtained the names of military personnel directly involved with the case : Lieutenant-Colonel OlÌmpio Vanderlei, Captain Ramires, Lieutenant TibÈrio (from the Army Police) and Sargeant Pedrosa. We also know the names of the three drivers : Corporal Vassalo, Soldier Cirilo and Soldier De Mello.
They met a Lieutenant from S-2, who arrived in a white brown Volkswagen (Fusca-type) and stopped beside the "Paes MendonÁa" supermarket, in Varginha. This lieutenant sent all of them, by Fusca, to the Humanitas Hospital, where they did some kind of secret operation. (...)
(...) Arriving at the hospital, there was a wooden box tied on two trestles, and ONE OF THE S-2 AGENTS WAS CARRYING A CAMCORDER. The other military men received orders to take their jackets off and were forbidden of using voice recorders, cameras or camcorders. At that time, Military Police and Fire Department vehicles have been seen at the hospital's entry yard with six men, as well as two men from the Army's secret service and some physicians.
The dead creature was put inside the box, which was closed by a plastic canvas and placed into the truck. The truck body covering have been strenghtened in order to really hide the being. AT THAT TIME, SPECIALLY ON JANUARY 22nd, THE WHOLE CITY WAS COMMENTING ON THE STRANGE ESA TRUCKS MOVEMENTS. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO NOTICE THAT ... Everyone commented and the rumours increased.
The convoy's route to TrÍs CoraÁžes was easy. Reaching the city, THERE WERE ALREADY POLICEMEN WAITING AND HOLDING THE TRAFFIC. It seems that the convoy's drivers didn't know what they were transporting. One of them, in his testimony, said he thought it was a burnt man, a suicide, or something. He also said the creature had a terrible bad smell. Because there were three trucks involved, we suppose that, maybe, there were three creatures. But this can't be said for sure. (...)
BY 4 A.M., THE SAME CONVOY FOLLOWED TO CAMPINAS, WHERE - ACCORDING TO OUR SOURCES - THE CREATURE HAVE BEEN NECROPSIED. At this time, there have been a meeting with some officers, when it was emphasized that all this operation was secret, classified (...) and all must be kept in silence.
The soldiers arrived at Campinas by morning. (...) Even an Engesa-type Jeep, war model, was used in the convoy, among other military trucks. We don't know yet exactly to what military unit in Campinas the convoy was destinated. Reaching the destiny, the box took another direction, which is still unknown.
(...) We have concluded that they transported the creature to Campinas in order to put it on the hands of a professional from Unicamp [University of Campinas, a well-recognized brazilian university]. According to our investigation , this professional is one of the most respected legists in Brazil and internationally known. WE HAVE GOT ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION TROUGH A SCIENTIST OF UNICAMP, whose name must remain anonymous. THIS SCIENTIST EVEN SAID HE WENT TO VARGINHA, WHERE HE PICKED SOIL SAMPLES AND LOCAL VEGETATION FROM THE PLACE THE BEING WAS SIGHTED. Thus, it became obvious that the creature had been taken to this university. (...) There are no doubts that Unicamp is involved in the case.
Our scientist talked to some teachers, close people who often visit his house, and knew that THERE ARE ORDERS FROM THE [BRAZILIAN] GOVERNMENT, NOT TO SPEAK A WORD ABOUT THE SUBJECT. As they told him, the head of the university is also oriented to keep this operation secret. THE SOURCES, THAT ARE RELIABLE, SAY THAT THE LEGIST PHYSICIAN BADAN PALHARES (who is responsible for important necropsies, like the Nazi Joseph Mengele one) DID THE FIRST NECROPSY IN THE CREATURE. (...)
Regarding to the number of beings captured, it's still obscure. Analyzing the probabilities, we can say that there are AT LEAST TWO BEINGS: the first was captured at 10 a.m. by the military men, and the second was sighted by the girls at about 3 p.m.. (...)
We already know how the first creature was captured, at 10 :30 a.m., involving the Police, the Army and the Fire-Fighters. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND ? HOW DID IT HAPPEN ? AS THE WITNESSES REVEALED, IT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 8 P.M. THAT SATURDAY, AND IT INVOLVED, THIS TIME, THE MILITARY POLICE SECRET SERVICE [Note from T. : also known as "P-2"] AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. This capture was much more discreet than the first, because the military arrived in plain clothes and using civilian cars. The creature was in an area near the woods, where the military surrounded and caught it.
This information came from a well-known lady who lives in the city, member of the Varginha's "high society", that heard that a police soldier had caught the creature. THIS BEING WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST LOCAL MEDICAL STATION, WHERE THE DOCTOR THAT WAS ON DUTY ADVISED THEM TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL IN TWO VARGINHA HOSPITALS - There are evidences that the captured creature, for some reason, have been taken to the Regional Hospital. But the men in charge of the operation must have concluded that that place was too central and not safe, deciding to take the being to a better place : the Humanitas Hospital, which is more well equipped and is located in a region far from the center of the town. This hospital lies beside a little peripherical road, which leads directly to the "Fern“o Dias" Highway [Note from T. : which links Belo Horizonte to S“o Paulo]. It made the transportation very easy and discreet.] (...) ARE THEY RIGHT? - A SOURCE WE HAVE IN CAMPINAS SAID THAT BRAZIL IS UNDER STRONG PRESSURE, WARNING THAT WE MAY BE SAT OVER AN ATOM BOMB. According to his testimony, the whole capture and cover-up process goes deeper and deeper, beyond we can imagine. So, we ask : (...) are they right? Will it be true that some kind of battle between alien and military forces had already happened? Shouldn't be the Army the right channel to deal with this matter ? (...) And shouldn't be this whole operation classified?
From our point-of-view, they could share with us the information they have. (...) We'd love to help them, but it seems to be impossible.
(...) What if an UFO crashed in my yard, who am I supposed to call ? Obviously, the first thing I would do was to call the military authorities, because that's their job. As a matter of fact, we are concerned because we're reaching the conclusion that THE VARGINHA CASE IS ONLY THE TIP OF AN ICEBERG.
On the other side, the right to know must be respected. (...)
AN ALIEN IN VARGINHA? - There isn't in ufology's alien classification a being with such characteristics like that of the one saw in Varginha. That's something important to the world' s Ufology. This emphasizes the possibility of a genetically adapted creature, whose aim was to do some operation among us, terrestrials. (...)
(...) It is very likely that the Varginha ET was some kind of animal created only to conclude a mission, which is still unknown to us. Or perhaps it would be some kind of probe, patrol, or monitoring of the human race. Ufology's classification is something relative. (...)
(...) The classification has a wide variety, but much of it is due to the different interpretations made by the people who describe and draw the beings.
Two reporters here from Varginha were searched by a person who identified himself as the-cousin-of-a-son-of-a-military-man-from-ESA. THIS MILITARY'S SON WOULD HAVE GOT ACCESS TO A FILM MADE AT ESA SHOWING THE CREATURE (OR THE CREATURES) AND SHOWED IT TO HIS COUSIN, WHO OFFERED TO SBT [Note fromT.: SBT = Sistema Brasileiro de Televis“o - Brazilian Television System, the second major TV Network in Brazil] FOR 70.000 REAIS [or 68.000 U.S. dollars]. Since then, the price have been reduced. THERE HAD BEEN A NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH S.B.T., INVOLVING THE SBT BOARD OB DIRECTORS IN SˆO PAULO, IN ORDER TO GET THE MOVIE. THE YOUNG BOY VISITED THE LOCAL SBT STATION, BUT THEY DIDN'T REACH ANY DEAL. SOME TIME LATER, HE SAID IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE TO DO IT, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WERE SUSPECTING OF HIM AND HE WAS IN LIFE DANGER.
THIS COINCIDED WITH THE FACT THAT, IN THE SAME WEEK, A VARGINHA CITIZEN, WITH A GOOD REPUTATION IN THE CITY, CAME TO US. HE SAID THAT HIS 16-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND HER SCHOOL FRIEND - DAUGHTER OF A POLICEMAN FROM THE M.P. - WOULD HAVE WATCHED A "HORRIBLE" FILM THAT HER FATHER BROUGHT HOME. IT WAS ABOUT THE CAPTURED CREATURE. AS THE GIRL'S FATHER REALIZED THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS, HE VANISHED WITH THE TAPE ...
We know this tape exists, and for obvious reasons : witnesses had already informed us that in the capture day one of the military men was using a camcorder. (...) WE HAVE HAD MANY EVIDENCES THAT THIS FILM IS HERE IN VARGINHA. (...)
Editor A.J. Gevaerd: UFO Magazine went to the 14th Brazilian Congress on Scientific Ufology, which took place in Curitiba, PR [State of Paran·], last June 6-9th, 1996, in order to gather some impressions from the researchers about Varginha case. See what these researchers think about this subject.--------------------------------
IRENE GRANCHI: - " THE CASE PRESENTS A NEW ANGLE IN UFO RESEARCH. I BELIEVE IN ITS AUTHENTICITY, BECAUSE I INTERVIEWED THE THREE GIRLS WHO SAW THE BEING AND THEY'RE N O T LYING. I'VE BEEN KNOWN UFOLOGIST UBIRAJARA RODRIGUES FOR MANY YEARS AND I TRUST HIS WORK AND SERIOUSNESS. (...)" .
(...) " What we have here are many circumstantial evidences. Thus, we realize that the case is very well documented with these evidences. Regarding UFO cover-up, I think the military authorities don't have the right to do this, because we live in a democracy. (...) ".
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*** VARGINHA CASE IS BIGGER THAN ROSWELL - by Reginaldo de Athayde
"THE VARGINHA CASE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT UFO CASES EVER HAPPENED IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. I SEE WE HAVE SOMETHING SUPERIOR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN ROSWELL (...). I hope our friends, researchers from Minas Gerais state, join the other ufologists in order to get what we always desired : to proof the reality of UFOs, the existence of these mysterious objects that come here to visit us. (...)".
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*** CASE INCREASES UFOLOGY'S CREDIBILITY - by Claudeir Covo
"WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, VARGINHA CASE IS THE CASE NUMBER ONE IN BRAZIL. The seriousness that the researchers are showing when conducting the information and the work itself increases the credibility of Ufology. IF WE CONSIDER ONLY THE QUANTITY OF INFORMATION ALREADY COMPILED, THE RICHNESS OF DETAILS AND THE SEVERAL WITNESSES THAT HAVE ALREADY APPEARED, WE SEE THAT THIS CASE LET ROSWELL VERY LITTLE."
"The Roswell Case took about 30 years to become known to the public, while Varginha's leaked out at the first days. The researches are very well conducted, WITH SEVERAL MILITARY TESTIMONIES IN OUR HANDS, besides many contradictory authorities statements given to the press. This proves there is a cover-up process. (...) THESE MILITARY WITNESSES HAD THE COURAGE TO TRUST IN THE RESEARCHERS, REVEALING WHAT THEY KNEW AND SECRETLY RECORDING IT IN VIDEO, GIVING IMPORTANT DETAILS ".
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*** VARGINHA CASE: THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE SAID -
by Edson Boaventura Jr."It's the most important case of Brazilian Ufology and also worldwide, due to its implications (...). I'd say that even Roswell cannot be compared to Varginha Case, which is bigger than it. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO THE MEDIA IS ONLY A SHORT PART OF WHAT EXISTS. THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE SAID. BUT THIS HAVEN'T BEEN DONE YET BECAUSE SOME DETAILS, IF REVEALED, COULD IDENTIFY THE MILITARY WITNESSES. BECAUSE OF THIS ETHICAL REASON, THE RESEARCHERS INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE N O T REVEALING ALL THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE." .
"Once I'm very close to the investigation, I see that THE RESEARCH IS WELL DOCUMENTED, WITH TESTIMONIES OF CIVILIAN AND MILITARY WITNESSES THAT PROOF WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 20th AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS. Even now, several months after the case, there are many details still coming up to the surface, as many other witnesses gain courage and start to reveal what they know to the researchers (...)".
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*** THE STRANGEST ASPECT IS THE ALIEN PHYSIOLOGY -
by Ricardo Varella CorrÍa."THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THIS CASE ARE THE LITTLE DETAILS CONNECTING INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES, WHICH ARE CHECKING TO EACH OTHER. For instance, the ammonia-like smell felt either in the place the girls sighted the being, either in the city's Hospital. (...) We also have to consider the great movement of military vehicles which is not common."
(...) "HOWEVER, THE STRANGEST ASPECT IS THE CREATURE'S PHYSIOLOGY, DIFFERENT OF ANYTHING ELSE EVER SEEN. It is strange, because what we know about ETs is that they are very independent and, sometimes, even aggressive, whereas the Varginha creature had no reaction, seemed motionless. This had never been reported in the entire world. An hypothesis that is being considered by the ufologists suggests that the creature is some sort of 'animal-probe' , put in Earth to gather some information."
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*** THE MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN VARGINHA CASE -
by Marco AntÙnio Petit."I had knowledge of this case thru the media. Since then, I made many contacts with researcher Ubirajara Franco Rodrigues, who informed me it was really serious, involving a very strong cover-up operation. I'VE BEEN IN VARGINHA TWICE. THERE, I CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE OF THE BRAZILIAN UFOLOGY. I HAD THE CHANCE, ONE OF THIS TIMES, OF BEING FACE TO FACE TO ONE OF THE MILITARY WITNESSES, WHO WAS DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE OPERATION. HIS TESTIMONY WAS EXTREMELY STRIKING, SHOWING THE RICHNESS OF DETAILS THAT INVOLVED THE BEING CAPTURE. We have to support Pacaccini and Ubirajara's work, in a definitive way, because this case is unique."
"(...) To our happiness, THERE ARE MILITARY MEN WHO ARE N O T LIKING AND DISAGREE WITH THIS COVER-UP PROCESS. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR US SPONTANEOUSLY, IN ORDER TO SAY WHAT THEY KNOW. (...) WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT MANY THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN AS THE CASE UNFOLDS."
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*** THERE ARE ALSO EVIDENCES OF A RECOVERED SHIP IN VARGINHA -
by RogÈrio Porto Breier."In the beginning, I heard about the case thru the news gathered by GUG [GUG - Grupo UfolÛgico do Guaruj· - Guaruj· (in State of S“o Paulo) Ufological Group]. On May 1996, I had the opportunity to go to Varginha (...). I thought it was too early to call theses creatures as aliens, because there were no evidences they had came from a ship."
"NOW, THERE ARE ALSO EVIDENCES THAT A SHIP HAVE BEEN RECOVERED IN THE PLACE. I think it's very likely, because only two or three days after the girls have sighted the being, Bandeirantes TV AIRED A REPORT on this subject : SOME PEOPLE WOULD HAVE OBSERVED THE RECOVERY OF A CREATURE FROM THE WRECKAGE OF AN OBJECT CRASHED IN VARGINHA. This report fell into forgetfulness. It would be interesting if the ufologists checked it out, because nobody spoke a word about this anymore. (...) ".
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*** ALIEN HAVE BEEN AUTOPSIED BY A UNICAMP TEAM -
by Eduardo Mondini."I'm close to the investigations, helping Ubirajara and Pacaccini with information from Campinas.(...) We're verifying the involvement of Unicamp (University of Campinas) and of IML (Instituto MÈdico Legal - Institute of Legal Medicine), and WE SUSPECT SPECIALLY THAT THE LEGIST BADAN PALHARES HAVE BEEN HEADING THE NECROPSY STUDIES ON THE CREATURE. WE HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT THE E.T. HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO UNICAMP AND THEN AUTOPSIED."
"We managed to contact the IML and the Army's quarter in Campinas, but both authorities deny the exhumation. However, WE FOUND A MILITARY FROM CAMPINAS WHO ALLEGEDLY SAW A DOCUMENT OVER HIS COMMANDER'S DESK, PROVING THE E.T. HAD BEEN IN CAMPINAS. WE GOT WITH AN EMPLOYEE OF IML THE INFORMATION THAT ON FEBRUARY 20-26 1996 THERE HAD BEEN MILITARY MOVEMENT INSIDE IML, IN THE ARMY'S PRIVATE DRAWERS, IN ORDER TO GET A BODY IN OR OUT THERE."
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*** VARGINHA CASE: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA
IN BRAZILIAN UFOLOGY - by A.J.Gevaerd, Editor."The Varginha Case is a breaktrough in Brazilian Ufology. (...) To our happiness, it happened right there, in Varginha, Minas Gerais, involving two researchers that, besides serious, honest and very dedicated to Ufology, live and know deeply the southern Minas region and its people. What if it hadn't occurred in Varginha ? (...) "
"THE VARGINHA EPISODE IS A CLOCK BOMB WHOSE WICK WAS LIT BY THESE BRILLIANT RESEARCHERS. A BOMB THAT PUT ON ALERT ALL THE BRAZILIAN UFO COMMUNITY. (...). Never, in all Brazilian Ufology history, the researchers have been so united, from South to North, seeking together the same truth. This truth, when totally known, will change the face of Ufology itself and the way we look to the UFO Phenomena."
"On the other side, this will be also the first step towards a global change of consciousness regarding this subject, perhaps starting here in Brazil, the birthplace of so much richness - among them Ufology. (...)".
by UFO Magazine Team
The statements from Vitorio Pacaccini and Ubirajara Rodrigues, saying that the Fire Department captured ETs in Varginha (MG) [State of Minas Gerais], contradict the word of Pedro Alvarenga, commandant of Fire Department's 13 th Company, who said the corporation wasn't called to attend local ocurrences on January 20th 1996. The commandant afirmed that, because they work in public areas, they wouldn't manage to hide the case from the press or the ufologists. He also said that the researchers are trying to involve the Fire Department, the Military Police and the Army with the fact. He claimed that "it would be impossible to hide the case. The emotional aspect of the men involved would change, because it's not a usual capture, and there have not been any change."However, UBIRAJARA AND PACACCINI ASSURE THEY HAVE MILITARY WITNESSES WHO CONFIRM THE FIRE FIGHTERS' INVOLVEMENT ATTENDING AN OCCURRENCE AT ABOUT 10:30 A.M. THAT DAY IN JARDIM ANDERE. According to the witnesses, the firemen arrived at the place with four soldiers in a fire-engine. They found a weird creature in the place and the Army observed closely the whole operation.
The commandant stated that "that Saturday, I wasn't in the quarter. The name of the Fire Dept. has been involved in a casual way, I don't know, but I think there was no truth regarding this." Captain Alvarenga said the witnesses are not military at all, because "if they would, they'd talk something to the press. Even the population would ask for more facts and evidences that everything really happened". But, according to the ufologists, if the witnesses reveal their names, they would be risking their jobs and harming their lives. Besides, UBIRAJARA AND PACACCINI RECOGNIZED THE WITNESSES'CREDENTIALS.
The press tried to take photos and to obtain interviews, but the firemen resisted. The commandant tried to justify it, blaming Rede Globo [Globo TV Network], because they did a story on the subject. According to Captain Alvarenga, the Fire Department didn't want to expose itself, in order to avoid complications with the media. "The things complicated because the day people were talking about this creature, it had been a corpse exhumation in the city, and the victim's family thinks the own police killed the boy".
However, according to a fax received on May 24th, from the Institute of Legal Medicine, which is subordinated to the Minas Gerais State's Secretary of Public Security, the body indicated as belonging to JosÈ Maria Misael Filho, 23, was exhumated in the Institute, which in fact is located on the Regional Hospital premises. It is written in the official report that the necropsy has been made on January 30th, in other words, MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER the witnesses afirm they saw the movements in the hospital.
Alvarenga denied the Fire Department participation in the transport of this corpse and said that "the fire fighters unit of Tres Coracoes is closer to the Army, therefore it may has been called to some operation with ESA or to transport the victim".
CONTRADICTIONS - We said to the commandant that what he was telling us was strange and contradictory, because before that interview we had made contact with Mr. Adilson Usier, director of Regional Hospital, who afirmed that the VARGINHA Fire Department had participated in the corpse transport. Captain Alvarenga, then, said it was a mistake of Mr. Usier.
According to the commandant, "the ufologists involved with the research of this case, Ubirajara and Pacaccini, are imagining everything and making use of the situation, trying to put their names in the media". Pacaccini defends himself : "I'm a very respected person, either in my profession either in my private life. I've never needed the ufological research to promote myself ". The same we can say of Ubirajara.
by Vitorio Pacaccini
Many people who didn't believe in anything about UFOs started - at least - to suspect of something wrong after the case blew wide open. Everything is becoming very controversial. We know, for instance, that AFTER WE'VE MADE THAT PRESS CONFERENCE MENTIONING THE NAMES OF THE MILITARY INVOLVED WITH THE CASE, MILITARY OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY CAME FROM BRASÕLIA TO VARGINHA. NOBODY EVER IMAGINED THE THINGS WOULD REACH THIS POINT. EVEN WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES EVERYTHING WAS HOT-LIKE-FIRE. THE OFFICERS WERE CRAZY TO KNOW WHO HAD SPREADED INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT TO BE SPREADED. ONE OF OUR WITNESSES ASKED NOT TO TALK TO US AGAIN, BECAUSE WAS AFRAID OF BEING "ELIMINATED" .(...) OUR PHONE LINES AND THE LINES OF OTHER BRAZILIAN UFOLOGISTS ARE ELECTRONICALLY BUGGED. We 've received a recent confirmation of it, from secure sources. We are afraid that something happen to us. (...)
IT IS MUCH LIKELY THAT THE PHONE LINE OF C.B.P.D.V. [ Centro Brasileiro para Pesquisa de Discos Voadores - Brazilian Center for Flying Saucer Research, which edits brazilian "Revista UFO" - UFO Magazine, Editor A.J.Gevaerd ] IS ALSO BUGGED, because everyone knows that the ufological information always converge to this magazine. (...) The ufologists only now are realizing the seriousness of everything. We have always condemned the worldwide UFO cover-up plan and the Roswell case manipulators, but we had never faced before constituted powers, national and close to us.
SECRET OPERATION - (...) I know I'm not lying about this case, I am absolute sure of what I am saying and the truth must be revealed. There isn't in the Brazilian Constitution one single article that prohibits the ufological research and that's enough reason for us to continue. (...)
If there is the possibility for us of being sat over an atom bomb, what about the future of ufological research, that had been fighting against this secrecy for over 50 years ? (...) Everything have always been done in absolute secrecy. However, to our luck, this time the information have leaked out. We know the situation here is very delicated, but this is NOT gonna stop or hinder our investigation.
by UFO Magazine Team
J.C. described the planes that flew over the city as being two F-5. (...) He said they were NOT in the natural formation, they were in some attack formation ... (...)
However, the most important fact witnessed by him was the presence of Army vehicles near a wood (close to where the researchers afirm the ET has been captured). He was passing there and saw a truck carrying about seven soldiers. He didn't know what would be the intention of these men there : "THEY WERE WALKING AROUND THE AREA, COMBING THE WAY. THEY WORE GREEN CAMPAIGN UNIFORMS (CAMOUFLAGED). (...) SOME OF THEM WERE IN PLAIN CLOTHES AND THEY WALKED IN GROUPS OF TWO. MORE PEOPLE ALSO SAW IT, I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE TO SEE. THEY DISAPPEARED MYSTERIOUSLY, I THINK THEY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE BEEN WATCHED".
Some days later, J.C. heard in a bus stop near to his house [in Jardim AmÈlia II neighborhood, Varginha] some people commenting on the story. THESE PEOPLE SAID THAT IN THE SAME DAY HE HEARD THE PLANES, THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF THREE SHOTS THAT SEEMED TO BE RIFLE SHOTS. A person who J.C. knows have more details : "AT THE TIME I WAS GOING DOWN THE STREET, I HEARD THE SHOTS, I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH TIME IT WAS. THEY WENT OUT OF THE WOODS WITH TWO SACKS, BUT THIS I DIDN'T SEE. AS THEY TOLD ME, IT WERE CAMPAIGN SACKS. ACCORDING TO THE LAWYER, ONE OF THEM WAS MOTIONLESS, BUT THE OTHER WAS MOVING, IT SEEMED THAT IT HAD SOMETHING ALIVE INSIDE IT. Soon after this operation, the trucks vanished. Some curious people tried to comb the place, but they didn't find anything. It all happened at about 10 : 30 a.m..
TAKING A SHORT-CUT - But J.C. reveals that THIS WAS ONLY THE FIRST CATCH OPERATION. ACCORDING TO HIS TESTIMONY, THERE WAS A SECOND ONE, WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 1:30 A.M. AND 2:30 A.M. THAT SAME DAY. When he was leaving his office, early that afternoon, he saw a truck leaving the city and stopping at the opposite side of an earthwork short-cut. (...) .
by UFO Magazine Team
Mrs. Therezinha became very frightened, and freezed, staying this way for about five minutes, looking all the time to the creature, without making any gesture. (...)
GOLDEN HELMET - According to her story, the difference between the creature she saw and the one observed by the girls was the helmet she saw covering the creature's head, which stopped her (from) seeing the ears and horns that probably it should have (based on the girls' description). The rest was similar : the being had also dark brown skin, bright and oily, a rounded face, red eyes, and didn't have cheeks, nor beard, mustache or nose, and, on the lips position, it had only a cut.
(...) Mrs. Therezinha was close to the creature, about four meters long, according to her. Still today, almost two months after the incident, she is afraid of sighting the alien again. (...)
SOME DAYS AFTER MRS. THEREZINHA HAD SEEN THE E.T. IN THE ZOO, FIVE ANIMALS WERE FOUND DEAD IN THE PLACE, AND THE ZOO BIOLOGIST, DR. LEILA CABRAL, DON'T HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR SUCH DEATHS. An examination was made in the animals and, in the result, it is reported that " ... in the stag, the reason of death suggests the presence of caustic toxic substance (...), the other animals have completely unknown causes" . The medical official report just suggests (doesn't confirms) the presence of this kind of toxic. THERE IS NO REAL REASON FOR THE DEATHS OF THE OTHER FOUR ANIMALS.(...).
VARGINHA: CITY VISITED BY UFOs - Varginha is located 300 km [or 186 miles] long from Belo Horizonte, in the southern Minas Gerais region [Brazil]. (...) It has about 110.000 inhabitants. The city (...) is situated in an strategic point of ufological activities, where there are constant sightings and close encounters of many kinds.
The Southern Minas is internationally known as a region inclined to extraterrestrial activities. Cities close to Varginha, such as S“o TomÈ das Letras, TrÍs CoraÁžes, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Pouso Alegre and others, also present countless records (...). In the last months, the number of cases increased frightfully. In practically all the cities of this region people are seeing flying saucers. The objects appear publicly, being seen by many witnesses at the same time. In some cases, they let themselves to be filmed or photographed.
WHO BELIEVES IN THE VARGINHA E.T.? - Jo“o Ubirajara Nogueira, engineer, owner of "La Neve" ice-cream shop, located in the center of Varginha, organized a poll between February and April 1996, with the following question : "Do you believe in the Varginha ET ? ". In this period, there have been interviewed 1910 people; 1530 people answered "yes", they believe in the ET, 330 said "no", and 50 didn't answer. In other words, more than 80 % of the city's population believe that something happened in Varginha and it wasn't from this world. (...).