Residents complain about approaches by the Armed Forces in Rocinha.
Residents of the Rocinha community are complaining about the violence of the searches and verbal and physical assaults by federal troops; the Armed Forces were sent to Rocinha to contain disputes between drug trafficking factions.
Brazil Agency - The work of the Armed Forces in Rocinha, in support of the operations of the Civil and Military Police, is interfering with the routine of residents, who complain about the excessive searches and even verbal and physical aggression. This Saturday (23), the community remains occupied.
"Being searched isn't the problem. The worst part is the humiliation [disrespect]. I've already been beaten up twice today. I've been kicked in the shins. If I could, I'd fight back," complained a young man in the lower part of the community, next to a sports court.
Another resident, who had just been searched by men from the Military Police (PE), was indignant: "I have nothing to do with this," he protested, saying that it was already the second search of the day.
At the same location, next to the sports court, which is at the exit of the Zuzu Angel Tunnel, a fight between two men who were drinking at a bar was dispersed by police officers using pepper spray. However, the gas spread with the wind and affected a group of women and children, including two babies aged six months and four months.
"It was awful. I vomited and my baby's face is all red," complained one of the mothers.
The military police sergeant who fired the gas explained that he only used proportional force and that using gas is a better alternative than physical contact. "If we intervene, one of the men could grab our weapons. Unfortunately, the wind wasn't favorable," the sergeant explained.
Armored vehicle runs over motorcycle
In another part of the community, known as Largo do Boiadeiro, a Military Police armored vehicle, known as Caveirão, ran over a motorcycle taxi driver's motorcycle.
"The damage exceeds R$ 3. The chassis is bent, the balance beam and pedal assembly are broken. I depend on this work to support my family," complained Henrique Gonçalves de Araújo.
The Eastern Military Command (CML) was contacted, but had not yet commented on the residents' complaint at the time of publication. The Military Police were also contacted, but have not yet commented on the motorcycle issue.