Rio, Brazil’s Most Violent City, Calls Army to the Rescue

Brazilian Army in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazilian Governor Sergio Cabral Filho has formally requested that Brazil's army intervene to contain the violence that has been spiraling out of control in the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro.

Cabral made the request as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the city. Offers of federal troops to help quell the violence were rejected under the previous governor, who was replaced January 1st.

"There are 6,000 marines who could be helping out. I'm not going to spend four years at the funerals of police and civilians. The people are in a state of panic, it's time to join forces," Cabral said. The governor has just attended one of these funerals for his family's chief of security who was murdered.

The crime-plagued city earlier requested federal help after gang members attacked police stations and burned buses in late December. Some 19 people died in the street violence, including eight who were incinerated in a bus after criminals robbed passengers and set it ablaze.

Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's most violent city with an annual homicide rate of 50 per 100,000 people. While the violence is usually confined to poor shantytowns, some of the crime in December spilled into well-heeled beach districts frequented by tourists.

Silva responded to those attacks in January by sending the nation's elite National Public Security Force to reinforce police and pledging $183 million to ensure safety during the Pan American Games.

Silva planned to meet with army officials later this week about the operation. Rio is scheduled to host the Pan American Games in July.

Cabral's predecessor as governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Rosinha Matheus, repeatedly rejected federal offers of troops unless they were under her command.

Silva said justice and defense ministers would meet with the governor and public security secretary to map out what areas should be occupied.

"All this so the army doesn't clash with the police," Silva told reporters during a visit at Rio de Janeiro.

Mercopress

 

Tags:

You May Also Like

Speedo Now Means Bike in Brazil

Speedo, a multinational in the sports product area, is going to release a line ...

Brazil’s Car Salon Celebrates Off-Road Machines

Over 500,000 Brazilian and foreign visitors should visit the 23rd Edition of the São ...

A Whiff of the 60s in Brazil

Why recall episodes from Brazil’s past? Because the more the elites try to hide ...

Brazil: Call the Cops! Save the Maracanã!

With rare exceptions, the great Brazilian capitals allow themselves the luxury of destroying their ...

This Brazilian Owns a Whorehouse, But He Won’t Be Called a Pimp

Not that I wish to defend those who exploit prostitution. But it’s not easy ...

RAPIDINHAS

Congress has been discussing whether elected officials should hire their own relatives. A congressman ...

Brazil’s Dedini, a World Reference on Ethanol Technology

While pumps in gas stations worldwide churn out gasoline containing increasingly higher doses of ...

Brazil Puts Aside US$ 72 Million to Fight Bird Flu

Brazil’s Minister of Health, Saraiva Felipe, announced yesterday the details of the Brazilian government’s ...

Dow, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta Take Over Brazil’s Corn

Recent news from media sources would have readers believe that Brazil is euphoric in ...

US Will Receive 1,500 Brazilian Students in January, All with Government Scholarship

Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, announced her country will invest US$ 2 billion ...