UPP prohibits Christmas party in community in Rio.

The traditional Christmas celebration in one of Rio's poorest communities, the Mandela 2 favela in the northern zone, may not take place this year. According to the president of the residents' association, Francisco de Assis, the reason is a prohibition by the commander of the local UPP (Pacifying Police Unit), Major Paula Andressa das Chagas Frugoni, who stated that authorizations would need to be requested from the Fire Department and the 21st Police Precinct.

December 24, 2016, 19:38 AMUpdated June 29, 2018, 08:25 pm

The traditional Christmas celebration in one of Rio's poorest communities, the Mandela 2 favela in the northern zone, may not take place this year; the reason, according to the president of the residents' association, Francisco de Assis, is the prohibition by the commander of the local UPP, Major Paula Andressa das Chagas Frugoni, who stated that it would be necessary to request authorizations from the Fire Department and also the 21st Police Station (Photo: Leonardo Lucena).

Vladimir Platonow - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The traditional Christmas celebration in one of Rio's poorest communities, the Mandela 2 favela in the northern zone, may not take place this year. According to the president of the residents' association, Francisco de Assis, the reason is the prohibition by the commander of the local Pacifying Police Unit (UPP), Major Paula Andressa das Chagas Frugoni, who stated that authorizations would need to be requested from the Fire Department and the 21st Police Precinct.

Francisco argued that the UPP was informed of the party 15 days ago and only on Thursday (22) did it take a position on the request, making it practically impossible to obtain the other authorizations, because the departments were in Christmas recess mode. He lamented the prohibition of the party, which is held outdoors with the participation of hundreds of people, installation of bouncy castles, distribution of toys and soft drinks for children.

“The major didn’t authorize it, and most communities will have events, only we won’t. It’s embarrassing. She claimed that she has to follow a decree, ask for authorization from the 21st DP, the city hall, the battalion and the fire department. But she spoke to us on Thursday (22), when we went there to talk about the project. How are we going to do that on Thursday, knowing that most of the agencies have practically closed their offices, due to Christmas?”, Francisco questioned.

The president of Mandela 2 said that in the Arará community, also under the same UPP (Pacifying Police Unit), the Christmas celebration was similarly prohibited, which is generating outrage among residents and other community leaders in the region.

“Every year we have a party. It’s in the street, like a dance, we celebrate. The residents come here with their relatives. So what do we do? This year our community was peaceful, precisely because there were no problems, no shootings, no disturbances. We were all set to have the event. There was no need to do this. We are outraged,” lamented Francisco, who is very well-known in the region, playing the role of Santa Claus in the community's daycare centers during the Christmas season.

According to the association's president, the mayor is lacking sensitivity by depriving hundreds of people of the community's traditional Christmas celebration: "I told her that a little common sense was needed, especially since we work together for the community."

The press office of the UPPs was contacted and issued a statement regarding the ban on the party: “The rules for holding events in public spaces are stipulated in the resolution of the Secretary of Security that regulates the subject (Resolution No. 013 of Seseg and Joint Resolution Seseg/Sedec No. 134) and, according to the commander of the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) Arará/Mandela, the event did not meet some requirements.”