Vigilantes impose peace in Rio slums

[RTO]

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - For as long as anyone can remember, the cracked asphalt soccer field in the Roquete Pinto slum was off-limits to children — "reserved" by gangs selling marijuana and cocaine. Then, a few months ago, a mysterious squad of beefy men with submachine guns started patrolling on foot, and the drug dealers disappeared.


A few days ago, while gunbattles were raging in two other Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods and bystanders were shielding their kids from the bullets, the barefoot teens of Roquete Pinto smiled and shouted as they kicked a ball around their freshly liberated field.

Startling transformations like Roquete Pinto's are increasingly visible across Rio, as for-profit "militias" made up of active and former police officers, private security guards, off-duty prison guards and firefighters evict drug gangs from slums where violence used to be out of control.

Although some worry about the implications of vigilante justice, the militias have powerful sympathizers, among them Mayor Cesar Maia, who calls them "self-defense groups" and says that compared with the drug gangs, the vigilantes are the lesser evil.

The surprise is that the gangs aren't fighting to hold their turf. In the few known cases where they did, militia gunfire turned them back.

Critics say the city risks going the way of Colombia, where violent paramilitary groups that sprang up to battle guerrillas came to hold more power than authorities in some areas.

"It's the state that establishes law and order, not the militia," said Sergio Cabral, governor of Rio de Janeiro state. "We won't accept this under any conditions."

But President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hasn't spoken out against the militias, and it seems that law enforcement has fallen into a gray area in many Rio slums, and city authorities may be content to leave it at that as Brazil prepares to host Pope Benedict XVI next month and Rio stages the Pan American Games in July.

In this city of 6 million people, one of the world's most violent, "the police provide security for the rich" and "the militias are the security of the poor," said Marina Maggessi, a congresswoman and a former senior drug-control official. She has mixed feelings about the militias, saying they represent the "collapse of the state."

First gaining strength in 2003 as an alternative to ineffective, often corrupt police, the illegal security forces have mushroomed since late last year and now control about 90 of Rio's 600 "favelas," Maggessi said. Success in slums like Roquete Pinto, meanwhile, fuels their expansion into others.


Story Continues Here.....

[Rico]

While I can't argue the results in a corrupt city such as Rio, I can't abide the use of vigilantes as an alternative to law enforcement. If this is the way, then perhaps the elected officials should hire them and make it legit. Like I said, I can't argue the positive impact this has had thus far, but I can't see it staying positive for long. Power and greed are powerful motivators.

[SGT C]

It's about effing time...

Having lived in Rio for 14 years, I can say that this article presents a rosier picture than what reality is...

Yes the militia have brought some much needed security to a few spots, however, there has been turf fights, and members of the militia have been targeted and killed outside of the areas they act on. AND, they are not as saints as they're been portrayed, they do abuse their power more often than not.
Having said that, I am in favor of what they have done, in fact I agree that it is probably the only way to resolve the issues in Brazil, a force that is unencumbered by a formal ROA and therefore "free" to act when necessary!!!

But, alas, the government is "taking" action... Or at least that is what they want people to believe, in about two weeks, according to O Globo Online (a newspaper from Rio) the Brazilian Army is deploying to Rio to act as a police force... This will be interesting to see... The reason? The drug dealers and criminals in general in Rio (and Brazil for that matter) are better armed than the Police and the Army, they have "assault" rifles (AR15's, M16's, AK's, grenades, RPG's, etc... In fact they possess stolen military weapons taken right under the noses of the Brazilian Army!!! At one point the Army threatened to invade one of the slums in order to recover some rifles that had been "liberated" from an Army post! They did get the rifles back though, but what a shame.

The the real reason behind the Army deploying is that Rio is going to be the host to the next Pan-American Games later this year (July). What will happen is that for the next 3-4 months the city will "calm" down, but after the Games are over and the Army leaves...


It hurts me to see how low the city has sunk, it is a beautiful city!!! One of the prettiest that I have seen. Took my wife there for our honeymoon (03'), while we where safe (it pays to know the city and the language), we did witness people getting mugged, I wanted to get the guy, but I had just had surgery in my nuts, so I had to watch as the asshole got away with the wallet of a fellow American...
I worry even more because I have family and friends that live there...

Another article I read over the weekend tells how homeowners in Rio are installing armored windows in their homes to avoid being victims to stray bullets, a common occurrence that has claimed it's share of victims, to include a 23 year college student, while she was riding in car on her way home, just this Friday. War zone? Definitely!!!

[Looon]

While I can't argue the results in a corrupt city such as Rio, I can't abide the use of vigilantes as an alternative to law enforcement. If this is the way, then perhaps the elected officials should hire them and make it legit. Like I said, I can't argue the positive impact this has had thus far, but I can't see it staying positive for long. Power and greed are powerful motivators.

Agreed.

[SGT C]

While I can't argue the results in a corrupt city such as Rio, I can't abide the use of vigilantes as an alternative to law enforcement. If this is the way, then perhaps the elected officials should hire them and make it legit. Like I said, I can't argue the positive impact this has had thus far, but I can't see it staying positive for long. Power and greed are powerful motivators.

Agreed.

Here is the thing, like the article mentioned, most if not all are already on the payroll of the gorvernment... This is their part-time employment.

[Horned Toad]

Fire all the cops and hire the vigilantes, since they seem to be getting the job done

[RTO]

Having lived in Rio for 14 years...

. Do you know any hot single Brazillian girls? :D

[SGT C]

Having lived in Rio for 14 years...

. Do you know any hot single Brazillian girls? :D

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up? Below are examples of fine Brazilian specimens of women that can be found in FL.




Disclaimer: The author of this post does not claim any connection or knowledge of any of the below pictured women. They are merely meant to exemplify the quality of what is available!!! I wouldn't post pics of girls I know... Latin = head string + bad temper...

P.S.: The prospect of hooking up with an American is highly interesting and advantageous for it can lead to documents and thus legalization in the U.S.

[RTO]

Having lived in Rio for 14 years...

. Do you know any hot single Brazillian girls? :D

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up?

Hook me up brother! :D

[Rock Island Ranger]

. Do you know any hot single Brazillian girls? :D

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up?

Hook me up brother! :D

Yea, hook him up, he does internet love. Not very well, but he does it.

[RTO]

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up?

Hook me up brother! :D

Yea, hook him up, he does internet love. Not very well, but he does it.

.

[Invictus]

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up?

Hook me up brother! :D

Yea, hook him up, he does internet love. Not very well, but he does it.

DOH!!! Talk about a baited ambush...


As far as the poll goes, there's no way you can condone vigilantism as an effective alternative. It's merely a band aid to a bigger problem...is it working now? Maybe. Are you opening yourself up to much bigger problems? Absolutely.

Maybe the militia started out with good intentions, but what control is there in place to make sure that doesn't change?

The very real potential is there to just have traded one mob for another one. At least the first one (drug dealers) were working outside the law and public support.

[Looon]

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up?

Hook me up brother! :D

Yea, hook him up, he does internet love. Not very well, but he does it.

HOLY FUCK

[EvilCouch]

RTO,

It's been a while since I lived there (13 years...) but as a matter of fact I do know some hot single Brazilian girls... But you need not worry to go to Brazil to meet them, most of them are right here in the U.S. . A lot of them here in FL... Along with all the other illegal imigrants... Though that's another thread... You want me to hook you up?

Hook me up brother! :D

Yea, hook him up, he does internet love. Not very well, but he does it.

Sounds like you have a disappointed customer, RTO.

[Jim]

The real issue is who controls the militia? Corrupt cops? Come to any large US city (Metro DC) and I'll show you gangs, politicianss on the take, etc. Society has got to be able to function free of fear. Problems appear when the militia morph into gangs. And they do.