While we are consumed with hunting down the largest flat screen TV for the cheapest price, or decrying the new security measures for air travelers, the city of Rio de Janeiro is caught up in a war between the gang members of rival favelas who are fighting each other, and also fighting the police. This week, the violence has escalated and spread throughout the city, and frightened Cariocas. Buses are burning, blocking major highways, cars torched, police raids that became military invasions of the streets. More than 45 people died this week in police actions. This in the run-up to the 2014 World Cup Soccer and the 2016 Olympics.
For years, the slums have been controlled by "traficantes", or drug dealers. Police could only enter the favelas using heavy arms, tanks and machine guns. The favelas have operated independently from the City, with their own tribunals to mete out justice to the inhabitants. Apparently, this escalation of violence is in response to the police establishing community police stations within the shanty towns themselves. The results have been explosive.
The nation's leading newspaper, A Folha, has several reports from this week:
According to the security authorities, the series of attacks and arson attacks against cars and buses are drug gangs' retaliation against the establishment of UPPs (Pacifying Police Units).
Folha.com
Ninety-eight vehicles have been torched since Sunday in different locations in the state of Rio. The police operations to contain violence have killed 43 people.
On Friday morning a Civil Police chopper flying in the area between the Vila Cruzeiro shantytown and Complexo do Alemão, in Rio's North zone, was shot at. TV images from yesterday showed drug dealers fleeing the soldiers advancing toward Vila Cruzeiro and escaping toward Complexo do Alemão.
Two tons of drugs have been seized in Vila Cruzeiro since yesterday. Besides the drugs, police seized five rifles, two machineguns, one imitation machinegun, various grenades and homemade bombs, approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition of different calibers, 20 closed boxes with 200 rounds of ammunition each, one bullet-proof vest and medications.
About 60 trucks from the Army Parachutist Infantry Brigade arrived this afternoon at one of the entrances of Complexo do Alemão, to reinforce security. The military will be deployed in siege and isolation operations, according to Army communications.
Cariocas have been glued to reports showing images such as these on their streets:
Rio has always been known as a dangerous place, in the midst of glorious beaches, breathtaking mountains and jungles, and a near perfect climate, it was a given that to live in the Cidade Maravilhoso, you must take safety precautions. However, this outbreak of violence is unprecedented.
This is so heartbreaking to see. Rio is not just another war torn, far away third world place that we can just shrug, and say "so sad". If you speak Portuguese, or even if you don't, click on the link to see a mosaic of Cariocas. Click on each photo and hear and see them declare their love of the Marvelous City. Hear them express why they would never live anywhere else, and as you listen to them, you yearn to visit.
The mosaic is a promotion of a film in progress, a homage to The Most Beautiful City in the World. The Film is called Rio, Eu te Amo.
Rio, Eu Te Amo is more than just a film. It is an opportunity to join in a celebration of love of and for A Cidade Maravilhosa (The Marvelous City). Through the Rio, I Love You site, the audience may
share their ideas with the filmmakers, interact with each other and help bring our collective passion to the screen. This is the first time in the history of Brazilian cinema that a film will encompass such a scale of innovation, collaboration, and global involvement.
I hope that Peace will come to the favelas, and to all of Rio, a center of culture, charisma, beauty and Love.
Rio, Eu te Amo
Update: Thanks to everyone for the serious discussion in the comments. But please, before you leave, click on the mosaic of Cariocas and listen to one or two of the residents of the city tell why they love to live there. Even if you don't speak Portuguese, you will be touched by the enthusiasm.