By DPA
Brasilia : The Brazilian government is demanding an explanation from US computer giant Dell’s local subsidiary, which is threatened with a boycott campaign by the country’s academic community.
Brazilian academics are in uproar over demands that they sign a declaration, required by the US but not Brazilian law, that they will not hand over equipment bought from Dell to US enemies.
Augusto Cesar Gadelha, computing policy secretary at the Brazilian Science and Technology Ministry, said Friday that Dell’s subsidiary in Brazil must abide by Brazilian legislation and cannot present local consumers with demands based on US rules.
“The Computing Policy Department is surprised that a Brazilian firm, located on national territory, is making demands based on the rules of another country in order to sell its products,” Gadelha said in a statement.
His comments make clear that the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva plans to interfere in the controversy, which began with nuclear physicist Paulo Gomes, of the Federal Fluminense University (UFF).
Gomes tried to purchase two computers for his laboratory two weeks ago. He was asked to sign a document vowing not to use them in the production of weapons of mass destruction and not to hand them over to citizens of countries hostile to the US, including Cuba.
The export compliance document is a standard US government requirement designed to prevent sensitive equipment from reaching hostile hands.
But the demands angered the Brazilian physicist, who refused to sign the document.
“I do not have to justify my actions before anyone, and I am not obliged to follow US policies. I am a buyer,” Gomes said. “Besides, I have ties with Cuban physicists, and I will not renounce those.”
Gomes said he would return the two computers as long as Dell refunds the full purchase price and sends a letter to the Physics Institute at UFF justifying the restrictions.
Dell spokeswoman Amy King told DPA earlier this week that the company is obliged to follow US laws and regulations regarding exports and would not comment on specific cases.
Gomes sent a report on the controversy to Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology Sergio Rezende and to the Brazilian Physics Society (SBF), which, according to the scientist, will recommend to its members that they stop buying Dell computers.