In today’s podcast at 11AM Eastern: Today’s headlines at the BBC,
Brazil’s battle for shanty town residents
Riot police occupy Sao Paulo slum following violence that erupted when police had killed a drug suspect.
Ten killed in Brazilian slum raid
Agence France Presse/The Australian
Around 300 armed personnel, including military police and special forces, descended upon favelas (shanty districts) in the west of the city, leaving 10 presumed drug gang members dead, including two in their mid-teens, officials said today.
Rodrigo Oliverira, a unit head in the civil police force, said the aim of the operation had been to “halt the action of traffickers in the favelas of Coreia, Taquaral, Rebu and Vila Alianca”.
Almost all of those killed were aged between 18 and 25 and were armed, the police said.
Police will receive year-end bonuses of 1 or 2 months’ salary, depending on crime reduction in their districts. In addition, police are creating community outreach groups.
O Globo reports that the raid failed to catch the drug bosses. Here’s the O Globo slideshow of the raid.
Last month a proposal to build a mile-long barrier around a section of the Dona Marta favela raised a protests from activists
The wall is expected to be completed by the end of this year and, according to reports in the local press, may be followed by similar barriers around Rio’s other favelas.
In a statement, the state governor, Sergio Cabral, who ordered the “eco-limit” fence to be built, said it was part of moves by his administration to improve living standards and protect slum residents from the armed gangs that control many of Rio’s 700 or so favelas, with an estimated 2.5 million population out of a total 10 million.
“What has happened in Rio de Janeiro over the last two decades has been the passivity of authorities in relation to the uncontrolled growth of the slums,” he said. Such walls would, Cabral said, help the city deal with “drug trafficking and vigilantes, by putting limits on uncontrolled growth”.
Dona Marta is home to an estimated 7,500 people.
Two years ago Brazil launches slum reform drive
The level of violence and murder in the favelas is astounding. Some 7,000 people were murdered just in Rio last year.
Yes Bingley, I agree that the violence level is astounding. This can be understood by the level of desperation caused by almost real job opportunities there (excluding bogus self-employment like sell things in the street).
Brazilian federal and state governments barely pay any due respect and attention to their citizen’s economic and financial welfare. Banks charge the HIGHEST INTEREST RATES IN THE WORLD in exchange for average services. Companies do not pay attention to their client’s wishes and desires, so there is little real marketing done. Many policemen, judges and congressmen are corrupt and often utilize violence for intimidation – what kind of legal system and law enforcement is this? as many say: our police is sometimes worse than the bandits, do not deserve respect and is most prepotent!