Between the night of June 22nd and the morning of June 23rd inhabitants of the Três Pontes favela, in the western Rio de Janeiro, rose up in revolt after the killing of a worker during an operation by the Civil Police. The murdered Guilherme Morais (22) was in the process of delivering food when the operation began. The cops used armoured vehicles, helicopters and troops from the Civil and Military Police. Operations were also undertaken in the Antares and Aço favelas, also in the west of Rio. The masses heroically withstood the attacks, confronted the police and the troops finally were forced to flee the neighbourhood with the people raising slogans.
The torpedoing began with the onslaught of rifle fire, an invasion of armoured vehicles and helicopter flights around 9:00 pm on Thursday, when the streets of the favela were still flooded with residents, including children. The reason for the attack by the reactionary armed forces was to secure the arrest of alleged militia leaders who supposedly were hiding in the area. No arrests were made. One worker complained to the press: “It was terrifying, really maddening. The helicopters,the shots. My children started crying and we could do nothing at that time.”
The residents revolted spontaneously, denouncing the killing, while pointing to the police. The wounded Guilherme was driven to the Municipal Hospital in Santa Cruz, but he did not survive. During the raid a large crowd of inhabitants combated the police stepping into the favela. Several residents became victims of injury by the shots fired and were taken to the same hospital, where they were treated and they are stable. However, medical care was given a mortal blow during the police operation: a medical team sent to the favela for first aid had to seek protection in the residents’ homes until the conclusion of the operation to nullify the dangers of being targeted.
The police was finally driven out from the favela by the people, a scene that has become a routine occurrence in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. The police withdrew, because they were unable to curtail the masses even with the use of stun grenades and tear gas .The people with unflinching resilience or rock like tenacity, denounced the murderers. Operations undertaken by the Brazilian police against the favelas and other poor areas of the city, harassment, torture and murders are a virtual routine occurrence and state of affairs has undergone no change with the new old head Lula.
Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who has studied liberation movements worldwide .Thanks information from A Nova Democracia
