Military Actions Ignore Areas Under Militia Control in Rio

03/08/2018 - 11h00

Seven months after the start of operations supported by the military and already having 20 of them completed or underway in poor areas in Rio, no territory under militia control, not even a single road, has been occupied.

Out of the total number of operations involving the military, 11 have been carried out in areas dominated by the CV (Comando Vermelho), the largest criminal faction in Rio.

Five other instances involving disputes between the CV, TCP (Third Pure Command) and ADA (Friends of Friends) were given priority. Another four took place in locales dominated by the TCP (Terceiro Comando Puro) or ADA (Amigos dos Amigos).

Ever since President Michel Temer issued the federal intervention decree in Rio's security operations, on February the 16th, the security leadership has been discussing ways to reduce criminality, especially cargo thefts, pedestrian muggings and shoot-outs in favelas (slums). So far, no actions have been defined regarding militias.

In Rio, combatting the militias is basically up to Draco (Police Unit for Repressing Organized Crime), DHs (Police Homicide Units) and Gaeco (Unit for Combatting Organized Crime), tied to the Justice Ministry.

So far, no one from the command leadership of these institutions has been called to meet with the federal official in charge of the intervention, General Walter Braga Netto, or the Security Secretary, General Richard Fernandez Nunes, who are both responsible for handling the area until the 31st of December (the limit of the federal intervention).

The Eastern Military Commander who is responsible for Military operations in Rio failed to respond to questions for this article.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

Read the article in the original language

	Carl de Souza/AFP
	Brazilian military on patrol past an abandoned vehicle with old bullet holes in Jacarezinho favela in Rio de Janeiro