Increasingly, Brazil is confronted with escalating levels of police brutality, which is often targeted at the inhabitants of Brazil’s indigent communities. Shantytowns, or favelas, have become infested with drug kingpins, gangs, and growing criminal enterprises, all of which are frequently at war with Brazil’s security forces. However, it has become difficult to determine which organization the inhabitants of these communities should fear more: criminal elements or the security forces that are tasked with ensuring their protection. Security forces view Brazil’s favelas as the land of no safe return, thereby necessitating violent and brutal incursions into these areas. Often the innocent inhabitants of these shantytowns are the victims of combat-like tactics being employed by the police. Innocent women and children are slain with the guilty elements of society, justified as collateral, but acceptable, losses. The government and judicial system of Brazil has turned a blind eye to such heavy-handed tactics and fails to see the need for any overhaul among Brazil’s security apparatus.
Brazil has become affected by the policies and inner happenings of its neighbors, generating concern among all levels of Brazilian society. The actions of newly elected Bolivian President Evo Morales could begin to impact Brazilian security forces. Morales is determined to legalize the harvesting of coca leaves within Bolivia that could potentially increase the production of cocaine (WAR Report). Brazilian streets are infested with the illegal narcotic, with a large segment of the Brazilian population becoming heavily addicted to the drug. Drug cartels run rampant within the favelas; this draws the ire, and the physical presents, of security forces into the area. However, as has been repeatedly demonstrated by international organizations, such as Global Justice, these incursions are often responsible for draconian measures, resulting in unwarranted force and often in death for the guilty and/or innocent. The Brazilian government should declare forcefully their dissatisfaction with any attempt by Morales to legalize coca production. The actions of Morales and his newly elected government could prove to be disastrous for large segments of the Brazilian population.
Secondly, the escalating chaos among the Brazilian peacekeeping forces in Haiti could also reverberate back to Brazil. The recent death of Brazilian General Urano Bacellar, head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and the continuing violence that threatens the country, has many opposition members within Brazil questioning the deployment of Brazilian forces among the peacekeeping contingent there. Opposition leaders are demanding the withdrawal of Brazilian peacekeeping forces, which can be better served protecting the people of Brazil. With murder rates higher than countries with armed conflicts, Brazil is confronted with an implosion, to the ignorance of many within the international community. Opposition leaders are seeking the return of all Brazilian peacekeeping forces, arguing the money and manpower being spent on the mission could be better served aiding the population of Brazil. In essence, Brazil’s favelas are little different than the shantytowns of Haiti, where criminal organizations leach the people of any hope for peace and prosperity (WAR Report). As in Haiti, Brazil’s security forces have demonstrated their continued ineptitude in securing these sectors, choosing to instead engage in corrupted behavior and murderous rampages.
The Brazilian government must continue to seek a complete overhaul of Brazilian security forces, dismissing those officers who engage in criminal behavior. The means of carrying out these overhauls has already been outlined by outgoing President Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva (see photo in previous column) and formed a large part of his 2002 presidential campaign. However, Lula and his administration have failed to implement The Sistem ?nico Seguranca P?blica (Single Public Security System) and have chosen to bring democracy, peace, and prosperity to other parts of the world while failing to provide these rights to his own people.
