Complexo do Alemão
Encyclopedia
Complexo do Alemão is a group of favela
s in northern Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
.
in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I
, a Pole
named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land. It was not long before the place became known as Morro do Alemão (German's Hill) due to Kaczmarkiewicz's physical looks. The rural area began to change its appearance in the late 1920s, when the leather
factory Curtume Carioca was founded. It attracted hundreds of workers to the region. When Avenida Brasil was inaugurated in 1946, the region started to progress and soon became the city's main industrial pole. However, the illegal occupation began in 1951, when Kaczmarkiewicz divided his land in plots and eventually sold them. The occupied places evolved into favelas during the military dictatorship. The number of occupations peaked towards the end of the dictatorship.
A Gondola lift
built by the Leitner-Poma
group now spans the Complexo do Alemão allowing residents a faster commute.
On June 27, 2007, just a few days before the Live Earth concert in Copacabana
and the opening ceremony of the XV Pan American Games
, Complexo do Alemão was the stage of a huge operation led by the Military Police against the gangs formed by drug dealers. Official numbers state that the police killed almost twenty people in the region. State attacks against Favelas happened countless other times. Until the end of the Pan-American Games, Complexo do Alemão was under siege. On its website, the United Socialist Workers' Party
(PSTU) criticized the operation, saying its purpose was to suppress the dealers of the Complexo do Alemão favelas only during the Pan-American Games since Brazil's international image could have been hurt if anything had happened during the Games . The United Nations Children's Fund
also criticized the operation, which injured four under aged and left thousands others without access to school..
) together with the Brazilian Navy, invaded the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in Rio de janeiro, in order to set up an UPP (Portuguese
: Unidade de Policia pacificadora, English
: Pacifying Police Unit
) in this favela. During this operation 31 people were killed, but the majority of the drug dealers fled to the neighboring Complexo do Alemão. The next day, in retaliation, the drug dealers ordered dozens of cars to be burned around the city. Due to this event, the Secretary of Security José Mariano Beltrame, backed by Rio's Governor, authorized the military to send an ultimatum to the criminals hidden in the Complexo do Alemão, either to surrender and put down their weapons, or face an invasion of the combined forces of the BOPE
, the Brazilian Army
, and the Brazilian Navy
, which could escalate the violence and bring casualties. The criminals refused to surrender and radioed threats to the military. Two days later, 3000 men invaded the Complexo do Alemão with rifles, battle tanks, and armored cars.
Despite the criminals' threats, the military force met with little resistance and took over the area within a few hours. After the invasion, an initial search was conducted, and tons of drugs (cocaine and marijuana) were found, as well as weapons, stolen cars, and motorcycles.
As of November 30, 2010, the operation is ongoing and the main objective is to find the remaining criminals that may be in hiding.
Favela
A favela is the generally used term for a shanty town in Brazil. In the late 18th century, the first settlements were called bairros africanos . This was the place where former slaves with no land ownership and no options for work lived. Over the years, many freed black slaves moved in...
s in northern Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
History
An article published by O GloboO Globo
O Globo is a Brazilian newspaper based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. O Globo is the most prominent print publication in the Marinho family's Brazilian media conglomerate....
in 2007 revealed the origin of Complexo do Alemão. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a Pole
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
named Leonard Kaczmarkiewicz bought the land. It was not long before the place became known as Morro do Alemão (German's Hill) due to Kaczmarkiewicz's physical looks. The rural area began to change its appearance in the late 1920s, when the leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
factory Curtume Carioca was founded. It attracted hundreds of workers to the region. When Avenida Brasil was inaugurated in 1946, the region started to progress and soon became the city's main industrial pole. However, the illegal occupation began in 1951, when Kaczmarkiewicz divided his land in plots and eventually sold them. The occupied places evolved into favelas during the military dictatorship. The number of occupations peaked towards the end of the dictatorship.
A Gondola lift
Gondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
built by the Leitner-Poma
Leitner-Poma
Leitner-Poma of America is a North American aerial lift manufacturer based in Grand Junction, Colorado. It is the North American subsidiary of French-based Poma, which is owned by the Italian company Leitner Technologies, part of the Leitner Group. The North American company was formed in 2000 when...
group now spans the Complexo do Alemão allowing residents a faster commute.
Demographics
- Area: 296.09 ha (3 km²) (2003)
- Population: 65,026 (2000)
- Homes: 18,245 (2000)
Police killings
Live Earth concert, Rio de Janeiro
The Live Earth concert for South America was held at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2007. It is one of two free Live Earth concerts, the other being held in Washington, D.C. It was the last concert to start during the day-long event. However, that didn't make it the last to...
and the opening ceremony of the XV Pan American Games
2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
, Complexo do Alemão was the stage of a huge operation led by the Military Police against the gangs formed by drug dealers. Official numbers state that the police killed almost twenty people in the region. State attacks against Favelas happened countless other times. Until the end of the Pan-American Games, Complexo do Alemão was under siege. On its website, the United Socialist Workers' Party
United Socialist Workers' Party
The Unified Socialist Workers' Party is a Trotskyist organisation in Brazil. It is the largest section of the International Workers' League , an international body of groups in the Morenoist tradition....
(PSTU) criticized the operation, saying its purpose was to suppress the dealers of the Complexo do Alemão favelas only during the Pan-American Games since Brazil's international image could have been hurt if anything had happened during the Games . The United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
also criticized the operation, which injured four under aged and left thousands others without access to school..
2010 Invasion
On November 25, 2010, the Special Ops Batallion (BOPEBOPE
Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais , mostly known by its acronym BOPE, is a special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil....
) together with the Brazilian Navy, invaded the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in Rio de janeiro, in order to set up an UPP (Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
: Unidade de Policia pacificadora, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Pacifying Police Unit
Pacifying Police Unit
The Pacifying Police Unit , abbreviated UPP, is a law enforcement program in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which aims at reclaiming territories, more commonly favelas, controlled by gangs of drug dealers or private militias...
) in this favela. During this operation 31 people were killed, but the majority of the drug dealers fled to the neighboring Complexo do Alemão. The next day, in retaliation, the drug dealers ordered dozens of cars to be burned around the city. Due to this event, the Secretary of Security José Mariano Beltrame, backed by Rio's Governor, authorized the military to send an ultimatum to the criminals hidden in the Complexo do Alemão, either to surrender and put down their weapons, or face an invasion of the combined forces of the BOPE
BOPE
Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais , mostly known by its acronym BOPE, is a special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil....
, the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
, and the Brazilian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
, which could escalate the violence and bring casualties. The criminals refused to surrender and radioed threats to the military. Two days later, 3000 men invaded the Complexo do Alemão with rifles, battle tanks, and armored cars.
Despite the criminals' threats, the military force met with little resistance and took over the area within a few hours. After the invasion, an initial search was conducted, and tons of drugs (cocaine and marijuana) were found, as well as weapons, stolen cars, and motorcycles.
As of November 30, 2010, the operation is ongoing and the main objective is to find the remaining criminals that may be in hiding.
See also
- Metrocable (Medellín) and Metrocable (Caracas)Metrocable (Caracas)Metrocable is a gondola lift system integrated with the city's public transport network, which provides quick and safe transportation for those who live in the neighbourhoods situated on Caracas' mountainous regions...
similar cable-propelled transit system.
External links
- November 2010 Gang Violence in Rio - slideshow by Life magazine