So I admit, this post actually has nothing to do with food, but I think it's important to inform people what has been happening in Rio de Janeiro in the recent weeks.
For the past 30 years, there has been a war on drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro, in favelas such as Morro do Alemão, home to 65,000 residents, and Vila Cruzeiro. In the favelas which checker the hills around the city, druglords rule, aided by corrupt politicians and power-hungry cops. Films such as Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) and the sequel, Tropa de Elite 2 tackle the subject head on, making bold statements about trafficking and corruption.
On November 25th, the "War on trafficking" began in full swing in Rio, in reaction to car bombings and the increasing exchange of gunshots throughout the favelas. TVI24 reported that at least 30 deaths occurred within one week, due to the violence. The police force, BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Especiais), led the crusade, climbing the narrow streets with their tanks and armored cars, to form police complexes, Complexo do Alemão in the north end of the city attracting the most media coverage.
Citizens of Rio's favelas suffered house searches, personal pat-downs, and constant coverage from police. Images of crying children and distressed adults, running from the grocery store to take cover in their houses filled TV screens for a week. The media swarmed, and reporters took their posts among police, geared up with their microphones and bullet-proof vests.
The motivation for such drastic action so suddenly was based on the fact that Brazil is hosting the World Cup in 2014, and the city of Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 olympics. The host being dominated by traffickers does not create the best PR, and the operation was in part to help improve the international reputation.
The take-over, while sudden, is part of an on-going war on drugs implemented by Rio's government. Two years ago, a revolutionary unit of police, the UPP, Pacifying Police Unit, was created and members of the force moved into the favelas. Through daily observations and becoming part of these communities, previously off-limits to authorities, they were able to slowly determine druglords from other law-abiding citizens. The Morro do Alemão came to such a violent head because there were no UPPs in place, making it a refuge for druglords.
Since the takeover, police have seized over 30 tons of marijuana, various weapons, and high quantities of other drugs such as cocaine. Nearly 200 people have been imprisoned, and as of now, at least 20 drug traffickers have been transferred to Curitiba from the Bangu complex in Rio.
There are still concerns, such as the fact that criminals can still hide in Complexo do Alemão, or the high levels of violence which put civilians in danger. Also, the Brazilians I know are concerned with the justice system in general. There is no death penalty in Brazil, and the maximum term served, no matter the crime, is 30 years. Recently on the news, many of the traffickers were seen roaming the streets. Part of the prison sentence includes working in a domestic job, such as a pharmacy or grocery store. The problem is that the inmates are simply released into the streets, and trusted to go to work and return when asked.
Clearly, improvements are needed, but the blitz in the northern favelas is a start, and shows traffickers that they have nowhere to hide. For now, at least, Brazilians' appetite for change has been wetted.
