This measure is a
must, although it comes rather late and it is not ambitious enough.
The presidential
decree that determines federal intervention in the State of Rio de Janeiro was
approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
Thus, after the
approval of the Senate, public security in Rio leaves the state level, passing
to the Federal, which will imply the Armed Forces being responsible for public security
in this state.
What does this mean?
That the Army has absolute power to manage public security, controlling the
Civil Police, Military Police, fire brigade and prison administration, until
the end of this year.
Will it work? It
depends very much on the strategy to be followed and the means available to tackle
crime. The Government, as usual, has been hampered in communicating such a
measure, especially with the Armed Forces themselves, in addition to being
accused by the left political forces of being engaged in another "smokescreen"
related to the social security reform, which is slow moving forward, or simply
seeks to take advantage of this situation for the October elections.
This is only a
first step, but it is far from representing the ideal solution.
Rio de Janeiro is
transformed into a state of drug trafficking, it is hostage to the thughs that
are everywhere - in the favelas, in the legislative, executive and judicial
power, in the public ministry, or even in the civil and military police where
the organized crime laws and repulsive complicity between several authorities
prevails.
Criminal cleansing
is urgent, vital and imperative! It comes rather late, and this intervention doesn’t
mean we will achieve success. Yet, it is a step forward!
Miguel Verde - Senior
Consultant, Professor of International Relations
