Vila Kennedy, a slum in western Rio de Janeiro, showed no substantial changes in its everyday life after it was occupied by the Military Police on Thursday (Mar. 13). The operation started at 5a.m. and lasted merely 20 minutes. No shots were fired, says the Secretariat of Security.
Rio de Janeiro’s 38th Police Pacification Unit is to be stationed in Vila Kennedy, and locals seem hopeful about its creation. Three people were arrested during the operation, two of whom already had their arrest orders issued.
Gelson Machado, one of the community’s first residents, arrived in Vila Kennedy in 1960’s. “Violence started in the 80’s. Now I hope I can sleep soundly, with no gunfights. Our houses will be more valuable. Before, if you invited someone over for a party, no one would come. Drug trafficking didn’t mess with us and we didn’t mess with them, but there were a lot of wrong things,” he said.
A 14-year-old boy says he is forced to miss classes at school, as gunfights are frequent in the neighborhood. This year, for instance, he has had to be absent from school twice.
A 38-year-old woman who preferred not to have her identity disclosed, hopes that what took place in Complexo do Alemão and Rocinha does not happen again in Vila Kennedy. In those places, armed gang members are still seen to control strategic spots in the favela, in spite of the UPPs.
Vila Kennedy was created to be home to residents from three favelas in Rio de Janeiro. It was named after former US president John Kennedy, who donated funds for the construction of the houses in the 1960’s.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Police occupy another favela in Rio de Janeiro
