Brazzil

Sunday, February 5, 2012. 7.30 am. A side road in a residential area of a city of Bahia state, in northeastern Brazil. "I am gonna kill you viado (queer)," shouts a poor guy in front of my window. I open it. And I watch the confrontation.

One of the guys, a strong brawny man, throws stones at the small poor guy shouting he is going to kill him. The fight is getting hotter. Other doors and windows open to watch the show. Stones fly through the air. Eventually the muscled guy leaves while the skinny one keeps on shouting at him.

What's wrong with this picture? In normal times, a poor guy would never confront a richer guy. The police would come and probably arrest the poor one and you'd never know what happened to him. Not any  more. Not in Bahia these days.

The civil war going on in Bahia has already left more than 80 dead bodies in the streets of the state capital Salvador, since the 31st of January.

The atmosphere is very tense. And even I am in trouble since I have no cash. I have some cash in the bank in my Brazilian account but I cannot take it out. If I go to an ATM machine I risk my life.

No police in the streets is an invitation to be robbed. I am surviving with my debit card, but not everybody accepts it. Besides, many ATM machines are not working. All the money has been taken out and they have not been refilled.

Yesterday I went to the supermarket. Saturday mornings they are always empty. Not yesterday. The market was full. Lots of people were buying food and everything else. My favorite mineral water was already out of stock. Once I bought another one and got a severe intoxication.

What the hell is happening? People are fearful. They buy food early in the day because they do not want to go in the streets later on, when the assaults are more likely.

The streets are filled with trash. The sanitation company is not collecting trash at night any more. No explanation, but many rumors. Some say the employees fear for their lives and don't want to work at night. I heard in the radio that tomorrow, Monday, schools in Salvador will remain shut because they can't offer security to the students.

The city is effectively paralyzed. Some people might think I am exaggerating the fears. Maybe.  But something is different. A noisy corner I usually pass on Sunday, a place normally filled with rowdy, disrespectful people who blast their loud speakers all day Sunday was quiet today.

There is silence, finally. Maybe the riot of the poor people is scaring even those who usually treat them like dogs. Yes, because now there is no protection for anybody.

There are many small battles inside the big war between the policemen on strike and the Government of Bahia. But they all have something in common: everyone in the middle of it risks seriously his or her life. I'm not exaggerating. A large stone almost hit me this morning while I was at the window watching the fight between the two men.

When will all this confrontation end?  Some cynics say not before the powerful of Salvador chime in. They are starting to do that now. Salvador's trade association estimates the losses caused by the strike due to lost salaries, looting and assaults amount to 200 million reais (US$ 116 million).

Renowned singer Ivete Sangalo told reporters she feels very bad for what is happening to her Salvador. Carnaval is coming and big money too, but many people will stay away if the city cannot guarantee security for the revelers.

Singers will be among the biggest losers. They are already losing money canceling their shows in Bahia because of the lack of security.

In the meantime, I am running out of cash like many people in Bahia. Stores are empty. What are we supposed to do these days? I turn the question to Mr. Jaques Wagner, governor of Bahia.

Max Bono is an investigative journalist traveling in Brazil. You can contact him at researchinrio@yahoo.com.

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written by Double-Dot, February 05, 2012

Fear in Bahia, Brazil, Is Emptying ATM Machines and Supermarket Shelves

Tks Max, for the article. Sent a copy to mah cousin Sally who was planning to visit Brazil coming spring with her church members. They are cancelling out and opting to go to Bali instead. Ah don't understand why Americans would want to go overseas when we have plenty of interesting places here in the good ole U.S.of A.

God bless America.

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Tod Double-Dot . .
written by capnamerca, February 06, 2012

To experience a different culture which does not exist in the USA. enlightenment. Not everyone is happy living in a cocoon.

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written by istheman, February 06, 2012

Can somebody please stop this idiot from writing this crap. Salvador is not pleasant at the moment, but most of it is nowhere near what this idiot is describing. I was at the supermarket yesterday, which was nowhere near full and was fully stocked. I took money out of an ATM to pay for my purchases. I walked down my street. I am still alive and well.
Funny how this so-called investigative journalist just happens to be where everything is happening, isn't is? A few days ago he was in the middle of an "arrastão." Then he claims to hear murder threats in his current article. Oddly enough previously he wrote as if he was in Salvador, Feira de Santana and Itabuna in the same day.
I'm a former newspaper editor. I know bulls**t when I see it, and this reporting has all the hallmarks of fantasy. I do not believe this so-called reporter has witnessed what he claims to witness. Brazzil is doing reporting a disservice by publishing this crap.
Yes, Salvador is dangerous and in the middleof a police strike. Even when there is no police strike, Salvador is dangerous. But beyhond that, there is little truth in this person's reporting.

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You were a lousy editor then.....you didn't check the facts.
written by adrianerik, February 06, 2012

Because the description of the climate in Salvador is accurate. It is even worse if you compare the tourist areas, where they have placed troops, and the regular neighborhoods. You do everything in the day...around 6 or 7 most people return home. I volunteer at a community center from 5 to 8pm. All of the classes were cancelled. While our young people were waiting outside of the center, groups of youths on motorcycles threatened them to not be there when they returned. We had near panic attacks with the older members of the community center. One lady just stood in front of me and cried silently. Another wanted to find another plain plastic bag to carry the shirt she had bought because the store bag was so glitzy and she feared it would attract attention. Other women was nearly completely red with fear. I had a car so I carried a few people back to their homes. As I headed up their street, one of the women's two daughters were walking towards us, themselves searching to 'rescue' their mom. I was told not to drive any further, the streets were already blocked and they were preparing to rob the stores. Yes, Salvador is always dangerous but danger has never closed down the city, especially major festivals: Daniela Mercury, Carlinhos Brown, Timbalada all have cancelled their shows. There are two sources of violence: the majority had been caused by the police themselves. They were the ones on the first days of the strike who actually organized riots. They were the ones pointing their guns at store owners, telling them that a riot was coming. They were the ones pointing their guns at citizens on busses, forcing them to leave the busses so that the police could block major roadways. We have the pictures of them. Just this morning, they have done the same thing again, pointing their guns at citizens, forcing them off of busses and blocking major roadways. Now, after 7 days, the real, or should I say "other" criminals are becoming aware of what they can get away with. Taking a cue from the police (many of whom are in partnership with the criminals), the actual waves of robberies are increasing, ATM machines are robbed with impunity, day by day, supermarkets and electronic stores are broken into with impunity. The rate of murders, already bad, has more than doubled. Universities have suspended classes. Today, city and state schools should resume classes...let us see what happens.

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written by istheman, February 06, 2012

No, I wasn't a lousy editor. I know when a reporter is making up "facts."

The city has not been closed. Far from it. I am not saying things are normal here, nor am I saying they cannot get worse. I am saying that they have not reached the apocalyptic state that the writer would have us believe. And I am saying the stories bear the hallmark of fantasy.

Shutting down festivals does not equal shutting down a city. It is well known that festivals can often be a hotbed of violence, and shutting them down may be one of the few smart things done so far during this police strike.

As for this never happening before, apparently you didn't live in Salvador in 2001.

As I do, you live here. As you and I have both pointed out, this is a violent city. Unfortunately for those who are likely to be the victims of that violence reality has not changed a great deal. It is not unusual for people to be held up a gunpoint or murdered in Salvador. It is not unusual for people living in favelas or working class housing to be fearful. It is not unusual for criminals on motorcycles to threaten, rob or kill. I am not making apologies for this kind of behaviour; I find it disgusting. However, I am painting a picture of a reality that for many soteropolitanos has not changed a great deal in the past week or so.

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written by wisemann, February 06, 2012

I am viado and love a strong brawny man.

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capnamerica
written by Double-Dot, February 06, 2012

To experience a different culture which does not exist in the USA. enlightenment.

Ah don't agree with you when ya say culture does not exist in the U.S of A. A Bell Captain has no right to call me or Sally uncultured.

God bless America.

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reading comprehension lacking...
written by blah, February 08, 2012

To experience a different culture which does not exist in the USA. enlightenment.



Ah don't agree with you when ya say culture does not exist in the U.S of A. A Bell Captain has no right to call me or Sally uncultured.smilies/angry.gif

God bless America.

You didn't read what the person said... obviously a main factor for anyone to visit Brazil would be to experience a culture that cannot be found within the 50 states of America. Hate to make it blatantly obvious but Kansas ain't Brazil. That's all they meant. There's plenty of culture in the good ole US of A... but you happen to have the reading comprehension of a first grader. Sorry!

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written by Double-Dot, February 08, 2012

but you happen to have the reading comprehension of a first grader

Listen, mister. You and that Bell Captain might have gone to some fancy schools in the East Coast. But y'all have more problem in reading than me. Mah question was why go to a place where the cops are killing American tourists, as reported by Max. Y'all wouldn't go either if you had enough reading comprehension n paid attention to his warning. Besides Ah don't speak a single word in Spanish to experiment the new culture y'all are so fond of. Ah hear they speak English in Kenya n maybe ah would visit there jist to check how cultured they are out there.

God bless America n its rich culture.

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@ 2 dots
written by wisemann, February 08, 2012

U dumbass, in Brasil we speak Portuguese, not spanish. Most of your comments are moronic!

U dont have to go to Kenya, just go to Watts, L.A. where they also speak 'inglish', they would love to share their 'culture' with you ponto duplo....

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written by Double-Dot, February 09, 2012

U dumbass, in Brasil we speak Portuguese, not spanish. Most of your comments are moronic!

Ah'm very disappointed in you. No Kraut has ever called me a moron. Ah've always been supportive of the stupidity you write in this forum and still you are very discourteous to me.

For me all the languages other than English sound the same and that include the one y'all speak in Berlin.

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Double-Dot
written by me, February 11, 2012

It's totally clear from the the use of the word 'experiment' that the poster known as 'Double-Dot' has Portuguese as a first language. Probably an Brazilian illegal immigrant living (or formerly living) in the south-east part of the US.

Definitely not an American (AKA 'Norte Americano') but rather an internet 'troll'.

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written by Double-Dot, February 11, 2012

Probably an Brazilian illegal immigrant living (or formerly living) in the south-east part of the US.

You callin me an Un-American, boy?> Another spoiled brat who went to an East Coast school with daddy's money???

God bless America and save it from the commies,krauts,limeys and other European allies.

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wow
written by Crystal Westbrooks, March 27, 2012

The people will have justice. No matter where you are.

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Settle Down Guys javascript:void(0);
written by Bobby, April 06, 2012

Hey Friends settle down, share your words with Peace.

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