After reading the text, I did some research on recent news articles
about favelas, drug traffickers and police in Brazil. I found many news pieces
that had headlines pertaining the impounding of drugs found in favelas by the
police, or Elite Special Forces. One of the articles I found depicted a picture
of the confiscated drugs found in da favela do Monsenhor a few weeks ago, with
the emblem of the police who found it.
I am now curious to know if these news articles are staged performances
created by police illegitimacy in favelas, or if they are actual heroic and
successful invasions.
There is a
problem of misinformation concerning the confrontation between favela’s drug
traffickers and police. This distortion that easily spreads around social media
portrays BOPE as courageous and brave heroes who put themselves in danger for
the well being of society. However, what citizens don’t know is that many
times, news about BOPE officers confiscating drugs in favelas are arranged.
Police have two
sides to them, they are portrayed to society as admirable individuals who have
as a duty to protect life and property, detect and
apprehend offenders, and help those in need of assistance. It is only favela’s
habitants who see their other side. Brutal, corrupt and violent is what the
text describes BOPE to be. This idea is supported by an article I found published
by the Investigation and Analysis of Organized Crime in Brazil on May of 2016. A recent survey found favela dwellers in Rio de Janeiro
are more afraid of police than illegal militias and drug traffickers. The results
of the survey indicate that the liberal use of violence by police forces has
eroded a lack of trust in law enforcement by favela residents in Rio de
Janeiro. Everyday life in favelas, such
as El Dorado, is filled with structural and physical violence. Lethal force
towards favela residents is behind high levels of police distrust among favela
residents.
There is an institutional
image that is set into motion during invasions, as the text explains. Where
state and police legitimacy are determined according to geography. Corruption
and bribery in the favelas also engenders fear
among its inhabitants. This has led for police actions to be seen as
illegitimate in the eyes of favela residents.
There is no protection being provided by the state
creating undesirable living situations,
where people live in constant fear. Hopefully favelas can enter into the eyes
of the state, where the needs of its inhabitants can be recognized and acknowledged.
I know it is extremely hard for the state and favelas to work towards a culture
of peace, however, it is not impossible.
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