The entry of the three Armed Forces in combating drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro was agreed in a summit meeting between the Army, Navy and Air Force, on the afternoon of Friday (26), the Guanabara Palace - seat of state government - Botafogo, south of the city.
The Army is the force that will actually go into combat, with the placement of 800 soldiers, all of the paratrooper brigade (PQD), hits in the Vila Cruzeiro and the German Complex, communities hitherto considered the headquarters of the largest criminal gang the state.
According to the head of the Eastern Military Command, Gen. Adriano Pereira Junior, about 60% of the soldiers are men who worked in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti.
- There is no possibility of using conscripts. The rest are all very experienced military.
The army chief admitted that the troops will respond if they are attacked. They will stand at about 40 streets that provide access to both communities.
- If we are attacked, we will surely respond. We will be with weapons and experienced men will be employed if necessary. The troop is targeted. We hope that the mission is well accomplished, but if there is confrontation, we will be prepared.
The question on the possibility of a direct confrontation with criminals has caused uneasiness to the military present at news conference after the meeting.
The chief of the Joint Armed Forces, General José Carlos Nardi, nodded emphatically in the negative sign to hear a question posed to Secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame on a possible military assault of the German Complex.
The U.S. television network CNN in its coverage of conflicts between police and traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, plaguing the state since the beginning of the week and has already caused over 30 deaths.
The station, which treats conflict as a war, used images of an exchange of shots being fired and vehicles to illustrate the current reality experienced by the population of Rio de Janeiro.
The broadcaster said the shares claimed by Beltrame and also the position of President Lula.
Newspapers around the world highlighted the violence in Rio, which, besides being a popular destination known and sought after by tourists, will host matches of World Cup Football 2014 and 2016 Olympics.
The situation is so serious that the army had to reinforce public security. Colonel Ernie Zana Cardoso, head of Army media said on Friday that the number of troops used in police operations in Rio's slums may reach 2,400. This contingent, 800 men are ready and can go into the streets at any time.
