Hostages taken at de luxe hotel in Rio
Posted in 2016 Olympics, News, Rio de Janeiro, World Cup 2014 on 30. Aug, 2010
Hi all,
Typically I write about the pleasanter things here in Rio and Brazil – and there are many to write about. But I won’t deny that there are severe problems, endemic problems. Foremost among these in Rio is crime fueled by the war against drug traffickers.
The most recent battle erupted last weekend when a caravan of traffickers returning home from a night of partying was stopped by police. The traffic stop turned ugly, with traffickers brazenly trading shots with police in the street. Many fled to Rocinha, the sprawling favela where they live. (If you saw the version of The Hulk starring Ed Norton, then you saw helicopter views of Rocinha as the movie opened. It’s huge, with perhaps 250-300,000 inhabitants.)
Unfortunately, 10 of the traffickers sought refuge in the InterContinental Hotel resort, quickly taking hostages – figures reported ranged from 30 to 35. Fortunately, police surrounded the resort and the gunmen surrendered after about three hours – a short time, but which must have seemed an eternity to all involved. In the end, one woman, a bystander, was dead. Several others were wounded, including 4 police officers.
You can find a couple of concise write-ups in English by clicking the links below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/21/rio-luxury-hotel-invaded-_n_690062.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/22/hostage-shootout-police-rio
One resident of the area shot some video, which you can see on O Globo‘s online edition (O Globo is Rio’s largest newspaper) and on YouTube. It is embedded here:
You can find additional print, photo, and video coverage at:
What you may not appreciate is that Sao Conrado, where this all took place, is a very upscale area, nestled by a beautiful stretch of beach and host to other ritzy resorts. It just happens to lie near the favela of Vidigal, where the traffickers were partying, and the favela of Rocinha, their home.
And therein lies one of the things that makes Rio what it is: The juxtaposition of rich and poor areas in Zona Sul (South Zone). A result of history and topography, and lax enforcement in the past of laws prohibiting building on the hillsides, favelas are now an incontrovertible part of Rio. I will discuss this more in future posts, because if you don’t understand Rio’s unique topography, you cannot understand how she grew and developed, nor her social fabric. Yes, Rio’s geography is so key to defining her that it has shaped her social structure. It’s a fascinating story.
To some, it may seem surreal that gunplay between police and very well-armed drug traffickers could erupt during breakfast in such a posh area.
What perhaps is more surreal is that, after living here for close to two years, the attack didn’t elicit that much emotion from me, or others.
After all, I’ve heard shots myself, many times. I’ve seen police helicopters circle the morros, or hills, supporting the troops invading below. When I had lived in Rio for only a short time, I had a spectacular view from the back window of my apartment as helicopters criss-crossed the favelas of Pavao and Pavaozinho, located on the morro 2 blocks behind. I called my girlfriend to describe the scene. Possessing more sense than I, she yelled into the phone for me to get away from the window.
She was right, of course. But I had already become detached, a spectactor.
I talk about the “pacification” of the favelas with friends. We are concerned. We feel for the families of the slain.
But there is a detachment. I have definitely fallen victim to it myself. It is something that I should explore further.
Perhaps it is because I simply haven’t been touched personally.
But the incident in Sao Conrado is a stark reminder that even in Zona Sul – perhaps especially here – danger is not far away.
There remains a lot to do before the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Will Rio be ready? Vamos ver. We’ll see.
Ate mais,
John
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