The Armed Forces occupy the Complejo del Alemán, in Rio de Janeiro, to ensure security during the municipal elections in 2008. Image: Wilson Dias/ABr, CC BY-3.0 BR.
Soldiers are back in Rio de Janeiro, but they had not been gone for long. In the last 12 months, the military was called 4 times to intervene. Over the last decade, the state of Rio has appealed to the Armed Forces 12 times. Those who circulate the streets of the city have become accustomed to the presence of men in camouflaged uniforms, snipers, armored cars and various other characters usually associated with war scenes.
The subject has gained an even more dramatic shape in recent days. The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezão, said on September 22 he could no longer deal with the situation in Rocinha, one of Rio’s largest favelas. The dispute between two high-ranking members of the criminal faction that dominates the territory has raised levels of violence there. Once again, faced with heightened tension, the Government of Rio de Janeiro requested assistance from the Army. Approximately 950 heavily-armed soldiers arrived in the favela on foot, in armor vehicles and helicopters hours later. So far, official sources have reported 3 deaths since the military's entry; informal sources claim the number is higher. Residents of the community live in fear, schools are closed and health posts have intermittent care.
