For decades the State has not recognized the favela as an integral part of the city, denying favela residents their basic rights. Today, after three years of public security occupation in Complexo de Alemão, we see that the path to the guarantee of our civil rights is still long, as the branch of the State that most enters the favela is the armed branch. Pacification does not exist without schools, pacification does not exist without health, pacification does not exist without basic sanitation, pacification does not exist without leisure. The symbol of peace in Rio de Janeiro cannot be arms, guns, rifles and tanks.
In the last few weeks, newspaper headlines have been dominated by articles about conflicts occurring daily in UPP-occupied areas, above all in Complexo de Alemão. These headlines are accompanied by declarations made by the State Security Secretary, José Mariano Beltrame, who presented the option of extending the militarization of favelas as a possible solution for the problems. It seems that in his view, all conflict is resolved by increasing the presence of the police and other armed forces in these territories.
It is our understanding that this perspective needs to be changed, as it is clear that the presence of police alone has not brought peace. There are many cases of abuses of power, arbitrariness and disappearances in favelas with a UPP as is the deaths of Amarildo, in Rocinha; José Carlos Lopes Júnior, 19 years old, resident of São João; Thales Pereira Ribeiro D’Adrea, 15 years old, Morro do Fogueteiro; Jackson Lessa dos Santos, 20 years old, Morro do Fogueteiro; Mateus Oliveira Casé, 16 years old, Manguinhos; Paulo Henrique dos Santos, 25 years old, City of God; Aliélson Nogueira, 21 years old, Jacarezinho; Laércio Hilário da Luz Neto, 17 years old, Morro do Alemão e Israel Meneses, 23 years old, Jacarezinho. We cannot fail to mention the police officers who have died in this suicidal action of the State. We do not accept these deaths. No life is worth more than another and the State must take responsibility. After all, what kind of peace do we want to promote? Warlike peace? Militarized peace?
This past Sunday, March 16, the front page of the Extra newspaper announced that residents of Complexo de Alemão had taken to the streets to protest under the orders of drug traffickers and that they were receiving money for doing so. Once again, the mainstream media has played its role in the criminalization of social movements and of the favela. We refuse to accept the way in which mainstream communication channels have covered the police action in Complexo de Alemão and other favelas. Favela residents cannot be seen as the enemy. The government says that the favelas are pacified. Why then do the police display so many weapons? We want more dialogue between favela residents and the State’s public security present in the territory. We want the freedom to come and go. We want more schools and basicsanitation for residents instead of a cable car for tourists. We want the guarantee of our right to expression, which is where baile funk comes in. We do not want our homes violated without search warrants. Understanding the demands of Complexo de Alemão is simple. Understanding the demands of the favela is simple, because this is straight talk.
Proposals for “PEACE” must be elaborated collectively with all of the favela. A policy for peace is not built with one foot in the door, gratuitously assaulting residents. Peace is not built with a caveirão (war tank). In the current model, “independent of who gives the orders,” residents’ voices continue to go unheard. We are aware that the poor person has their place.
published by Agência de Notícias das Favelas
translation: Rio On Wacth
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Ocupa Alemão
Instituto Raízes em Movimento
Alemão de Notícias
Complexo do Alemão
Educap
Jornal Voz das Comunidades
Pré vestibular comunitário Nova Brasília
Mulheres de Atitude -AMA
Verdejar Socioambiental
Descolando Ideias
O Coletivo PACAL- PROTETORES DOS ANIMAIS DO COMPLEXO DO ALEMÃO E ADJACÊNCIAS
Grupo Pensar
Fase
Família de José Carlos Lopes Júnior
APAFUNK
Porque eu quis
Favela não se Cala
IDDH
Mães de Maio
Rede Universidade Nômade
O Cidadão
Fórum Social de Manguinhos
Fórum Rede da Juventude
Coletivo Mariachi
Favela em Foco
Norte Comum
Observatório de Favelas
Observatório de Conflitos Urbanos
Agência de Redes para Juventude
Ibase
O Instituto de Formação Humana e Educação Popular/ Cpo Gde
Fala Roça
Marcha Mundial das Mulheres -MMM
Núcleo MMM
Coletivo Rosa dos Ventos
Comissão de Direitos Humanos da OAB
Rede de Comunidades e Movimentos contra a Violência
Biblioteca Chico Mendes
Coletivo Vô Pixá Pelada
Coletivo Vinhetando
Rio Na Rua
Grupo Teatro da Laje
Núcleo de Estudos da Cidadania, Conflito e Violência Urbana da UFRJ
Surbanitas
Coletivo Projetação
Rede Mapping the Commons
Projeto Green Go
Rede Contra Violência
Pontão Eco UFRJ
MediaLab.UFRJ
Justiça Global
Mídia Ninja
Núcleo Socialista da Tijuca
Linhas de Fuga
Cinemão
Coletivo PaguFunk
Centro de Mídia Indepente do Rio de Janeiro -CMI-Rio
Comitê Contra o Genocídio da Juventude Preta Pobre da Periferia da Grande São Paulo
Tribunal Popular: o Estado Brasileiro no Banco dos Réus
Movimento Paraisópolis Exige Respeito
Fórum Popular de Apoio Mútuo
Mandato Marcelo Freixo
Centro de Assessoria popular Mariana Criola
CEDECA-RJ Centro de Defesa da Criança e do Adolescente
GTNM-RJ Grupo Tortura nunca mais
PACS Instituto de Políticas Alternativas para Cone Sul
DPQ – Movimento Direito pra quem
RAESP – Rede de Apoio a egressas e egressos do Sistema Prisional
Coletivo Margaridas Ambulantes
Centro de Estudos de Segurança e Cidadania da Universidade Candido Mendes
Arteiras
Rede de Instituições do Borel
Ocupa Borel
Comunidade Apostólica Cristã Gileade Tijuca
Advogados ativistas de SP
Fora do Eixo
Coletivo SUBURBAGEM
Fórum Comunitário do Porto
Coletivo do Mov. Negro Antirracista e Anticapitalista Círculo Palmarino
Mídia Independente Coletiva, MIC
Tem Morador
Coletivo Das Lutas
Coletivo Desentorpecendo a Razão
Núcleo de Comunicação do Rap da Saúde
Agência de Notícias das Favelas
