by Jocelyn-19, 11 July 2007

Despite Brazil’s glories in soccer games and the smiles you see on the suntanned top models, more than 100 million Brazilians live in dire poverty …

Visit the BBC News Net, search for the word ‘Rio’ and you will come up with the following news titles:

‘Police accused over Rio killings’
‘War on Rio’s drug gang slums’
‘In pictures: Rio Violence’
‘Brazil police mount Rio crackdown’
‘Nine killed in Rio slum shoot-out’
‘Gun battles in Rio leave 19 dead’

As a result, the image of Rio de Janeiro is no longer confined to its beautiful beaches.

As if there is no alternative, the Brazilian government has only hired armed forces to combat drug trafficking and organized crime: using violence to end violence.

TRAGEDY in the shantytowns of Rio…

More than one million people live in Rio’s sprawling slums at present. Without even the basic services like the provision of clean running water, people are frustrated that their everyday needs are not being met and are desperate to earn a living. Drug gangs have thrived in those dire circumstances, and backed by organized crime, the gangs are feeding off the desperation of the most needy.

On 27th June 2007 - more than 1,000 heavily armed police - backed by armored vehicles and helicopters, raided and bloodied a district in Rio called Complexo do Alemao.

Approximately 19 residents died, including innocent bystanders.

‘People have been neglected for so long. Police only go there to intervene and that often turns violent,’ Ilona Szabo from Viva Rio, an anti-crime organization, complained to the BBC.

President Lula justifies the brutal operations with the following reason:
‘ we have to confront the (gangs) knowing that they often they are better armed than the police with more sophisticated weapons…’ which is more like a rationalization rather than a genuine explanation.

Pressured by the community, the Brazilian government has pledged $1.7 bn to improve living conditions in Rio de Janeiro’s shantytowns. The officials anticipate that the funding will help around two million families. Community groups welcome the investments – it’s the first time the government has attempted to tackle the root of the problem.

It’s not only about whether there is sufficient water supply, neither is there simply problems with the relationship between residents and the police; Brazilians are also suffering from terribly high unemployment rates and the aging population. High crime rate is only one of the negative impacts. It’s time the government seriously contemplated how to better manage the social welfare system as well as civic education.

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