Rio War Ending: Brazil Flag Waves Over the Slums

Reconquering territory!

Military occupation.

Like any Bruce Willis do-good urban warfare movie, criminal elements either die during the eardrum-splitting exchange of gunfire, or get captured after a hot pursuit by foot or police cars through a maze of hide-outs while a helicopter hovers above for tactical support, or, to everyone's frustration, escape. 

Urban war trophies:  arms and drugs.

The paradox is that it was this urban war that appears to have given the two-year pacification program in the favelas a big push.  President Luiz Inacio da Silva was saying he couldn't understand why the criminals should be in control over the favelas; he himself dispatched 800 troopers to support the police and military forces in their assault of the Complexo do Alemao and Vila Cruzeiro. There were casualties, yes, but the operation succeeded.  The denouement had the soldiers waving the Brazil flag over the re-conquered territory.  Wanted criminals were captured, arms arsenals and drug warehouses captured. The war pains would probably be felt by the slum residents for a long time. 

A hero of the Rio war returns home to his pregnant wife.

President-elect Dilma Rousseff takes over government on December 31st.  Probably, Silva wants Dilma not to be bothered by the favela issues while she takes care of more pressing government agenda, and as Brazil prepares for the great samba welcome to the World Cup 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2018!

A view of the two faces of Rio, the bright city and the dark slums.

Urban War in Rio!

The pictures look like they're stills from one of those high budget and action-packed Hollywood movies. Only that in the movies, the action is cramped within two hours of viewing time. 

But these were actual shots by photo-journalists covering an urban war that lasted for several days in Rio de Janeiro, which was also covered live on TV. 

This is actually Rio preparing to host the Copa Mundial in 2014, and the Summer Olympics in 2016. 

Principal Cast.  Initially, 430 police and military troopers aided by 13 armoured cars and a platoon of marines from the Navy, and would be reinforced by 800 military soldiers later in the week; and "two factions of drug dealers that have joined forces seeking to disrupt a two-year-old favela pacification program, which is aimed at wresting the densely populated areas from the gangs' control."  

Location.  The favelas or slum areas Complexo do Alemão (German Complex) with about 400,000 residents and the Vila Cruzeiro at the foot of the giant statue of Jesus the Redeemer, famous landmark of Rio de Janeiro. Around two million live in more than 1,000 slums, a third of Rio's population. The Alemão is considered the most violent of the city's slums. 

Time 1 - Sunday, 21 November.  Suspected gang members attacked police stations and burned vehicles, reportedly on orders from their imprisoned colleagues to retaliate against police efforts to wrestle away their hold in more than a dozen slums.

Time 2 - Overnight Wednesday to Thursday. Six buses were torched; ten suspects arrested on drug trafficking charges and sent to maximum security prisons in distant states. 

Time 3 - Thursday, 25 Nov. Death toll rose to 30. Armored vehicles carrying police officers rolled over burning tires during an operation at Vila Cruzeiro. Electrical wires destroyed.  Bullet holes scarred walls and homes.  Cars and pedestrians searched at entrances and exits. 

 

"TV networks broadcasting live from helicopters hovering above showed knots of men, many with packs and automatic rifles strapped to their backs, scrambling up the hills behind the slum ahead of the police offensive. Some of the armed men could be seen trying to drive up the hills, covered with thick bushes, in motorcycles and even cars."

Time 4 - Friday, 26 Nov.  Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva dispatched 800 army soldiers to the Alemão complex.. The death toll climbed to 41; about 100 cars and buses burned on major roadways, their passengers robbed and sometimes shot. 

Later in the day, police reported they have gained control of the areas.

References:

1.   Domit, Myrna. (2010, Nov 26). Brazil Military Says It Cornered Rio Drug Gangs. New York Times Online.  Retrieved fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/world/americas/27brazil.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a22 

 

2.   Fonseca, Pedro. (2010, Nov 25). Brazil Marines join slum battles, 30 people killed.  Yahoo News.  Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101125/wl_nm/us_brazil_rio_violence_2   

 

3.   Oliveira, Claire de. (2010, Nov 25).  Military deploys armored vehicles in Rio crime crackdown. AFP Yahoo News.  Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101125/wl_afp/brazilcrimedrugviolence_20101125194715