Police vehicles spread terror in favelas of Rio de Janeiro
- article published by indymedia -
Several social organizations are organizing a campaign against the use of the "caveirao" by the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro. "Caveirao" is the name of armour planting and heavily armed vehicles that enter favelas and poor areas of Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) in order to "fight drug traffic". But, according to residents and campaign organizers, "the action methods of the "caveirao" are there to spread fear, not guarantee security." Police officers inside the "caveirao" can shoot and intimidate the population without being identified, and there are numerous reports of residents of the favelas being scared and insulted over the vehicle´s loud speakers. Some reports relate how the Caveirao parades through the communities with the bodies of murdered youths clutched between the hooks of the car.
The discussion between the contrivers of security policy comes to a point where the caveirao is still seen as very "civilian" for areas that become more and more "militarized". For the organizers of the Anti-Caveirao campaign this argument goes the wrong way: "To accept the use of the Caveirao means to accept the theory that the poor communities live in a "war situation". This argument is the primary excuse used by the government and the police to justify random executions, uncontrolled shootings and other abuses practiced by police forces in favelas and poor communities" In the last weeks, more than 7 million Reais have been spent by the Ministry of Justice and the state government on two airplanes in order to fortify the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro.
On monday, march 13th, the campaign against the "caveirao" was launched in Rio de Janeiro. From 3pm till 7 pm the organizers, among them residents of the favelas and social movement activists, were collecting signatures, propagating the campaign and giving their testimonies, accompanied by hip hop and percussion performances at Cinelandia neighborhood. During the whole afternoon police officers were closely following the demo although without interrupting; nevertheless a undercover police man filmed the event during parts of the afternoon. Simultaneously, the campaign was launched in Europe by Amnesty International.
During the next three months the campaign will promote discussions in poor communities, schools, syndicates and many other locations about public security policy, denouncing the fact it only enhances social exclusion and disrespects the dignity of those in the favela. The campaign will propose a policy that isn´t directed against the poor, but respects human rights in order to protect their lives. An audience with governor of Rio de Janeiro (Rosângela Rosinha Garotinho Barros Assed Matheus de Oliveira - PMDB), has been requested to discuss the issue. In addition she will receive thousands of postcards from different parts of the world, protesting against police violence and specifically the use of the "caveirao".
