In an interview with the Roda Viva program, on Cultural Television, on Monday evening (10), the Minister of Public Security of Rio de Janeiro, Victor dos Santos, stated that the state will continue a permanent operation to combat organized crime, following what happened in the operation in the Alemão and Pinha complexes in which 121 people were killed.
Santos highlights that ten more similar operations are planned, promising: “There will not be an area in Rio de Janeiro that the police will not fail to enter.”
To this end, he reiterated that the primary focus of the Public Security Forces currently is to undermine the factions’ finances and not target their leaders as was the case previously. He emphasizes that in this way it will be possible to gradually restore the areas controlled by the organizations, which is a point that is considered the main point for him.
It is reported that there are 1,900 communities in the state, which means that 22% of the population lives in slums and is directly affected by criminal organizations.
“This project is what we believe will solve the problem, the resumption of the territory. It is an implementation of the court order when we present the strategic plan to restore the territory. And most importantly, with popular participation. No project can be imposed on the community,” says the Minister, highlighting that the resumption of the territory is not only up to the state, but is a joint effort by the municipal, state and federal governments.
“The integration of powers is how we will get a better result,” says Claudio Castro, government portfolio holder (PL).
Another point addressed by Santos is the classification of factions in the anti-terrorism law, which was drawn up with the aim of competing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. He believes that there are two possibilities for classifying criminals: according to organized crime and also according to terrorism.
“There was a need for legislation that would punish terrorism at the Olympics. Today I think it is different. What the factions are doing in society are atrocities. The territory is mine, the girls called lunchboxes and the families are desperate. What they are doing in a cruel way in these communities… does not turn Red Command into a terrorist organization, but different things.”
For the operations to produce results, Santos says terrorism must continue to be combated by the federal police and adjudicated by the federal court. “So, it doesn’t change anything. If you combine the two, it creates confusion.”
Citing Italy’s history of fighting the mafia, the minister says the decision whether it is terrorism or not should be made by the National Congress.
“Armed militias are a crime. If they advance against the democratic rule of law, resulting in barbarism, they must be evaluated. The discussion must be there in the National Congress. We cannot want to turn everything into terrorism.”
Finally, he stated that all requests made by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF (Federal Supreme Court), regarding the massive operation would be implemented. He added, “We already discussed in the meeting with the minister that some documents were not sent because the reports are under preparation. But we will send them within the deadline that was set.”
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