Minister rules out deploying military against drug gangs in Rio

Oct 21, 2009, 15:12 GMT

   Brasilia - Brazilian Justice Minister Tarso Genro Tuesday ruled out deploying the Armed Forces to combat drug gangs in Rio de Janeiro, where 24 people were killed over the weekend.

   In a press conference in Brasilia, Genro said the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva intends to help Rio authorities fight organized crime, and that they will free up funds beyond the 60 million dollars Lula promised Monday for that purpose.

However, he noted that the deployment of military officers is not necessary.

'Rio has enough police and weapons to keep fighting crime,' Genro said.

He stressed that progress is being made against the drug gangs, particularly due to an increased control of borders to hinder the entrance of drugs and weapons.

'The effects of that will always appear in the medium and long terms. What is happening in Rio is the consequence of 30 years of abandonment,' he said.

Genro played down the negative impact of the weekend wave of violence on Rio's international image, less than three weeks after the city was picked to host the 2016 Olympics.

According to Genro, the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not consider this violence to be any more serious than the attacks of 2005 in London, which is set to host the 2012 Games.

'When they voted for Rio, IOC voters already knew this problem. What convinced the IOC was not what is happening, but what the government is doing to solve it,' he stressed.

Some members of the Comando Vermelho gang from the favela Morro Sao Joao invaded the rival Morro dos Macacos in the early hours of Saturday, to take a lucrative drug business there from the gang Amigos dos Amigos. Shooting escalated into a real battle.

   When a police helicopter carrying six officers was sent to to the area Saturday, it brought down. Two officers died immediately when the aircraft exploded, a third died Monday of the wounds he had suffered, and another was said to be in serious condition.

   Several civilians unrelated to the drug trade were killed, along with at least 15 many alleged criminals.

   Buses, cars and tyres were set on fire in several slums.

   The Morro dos Macacos is only a few kilometres away from the Maracana stadium, where the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies are set to be held.