Nine out of ten deaths in police actions in Maré have indications of execution

A survey carried out by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Redes da Maré shows that nine out of ten deaths (89%) that occurred during police operations in Complexo da Maré in 2022, have evidence of extrajudicial execution. The 7th edition of Right to Public Security in Maré Bulletinwhich brings this and other data on violence in the group of favelas in the north of Rio, was published today (13).

Executions are murders committed intentionally, in which the victim has no right of defense (such as shooting at point-blank range or shooting the victim in the back), and are therefore illegal.

The percentage of alleged executions committed by the police is similar to those committed by illegal armed groups in the territory (92%).

According to the study coordinator, Camila Barros, the data were compiled based on several sources, such as direct observation of NGO collaborators (who are on duty during armed confrontations), witness reports, physical evidence of the crime scenes and reports from the Legal Medical Institute (IML).

“There was an operation that took place in September, in Baixa do Sapateiro, in which 19 people were kept in private prison [por policiais], in a house. There was a very large mobilization of residents and local leaders. If there wasn’t all this mobilization, possibly there would have been another slaughter on that occasion. Even so, two people were executed. The story we have is that they were handpicked and executed with a shot in the head,” says the researcher.

The study reveals that police actions killed twice as many people as illegal armed groups, which also means that the number of possible executions carried out by agents is twice as high as those committed by bandits.

According to Camila Barros, deaths in police actions had decreased and reached five in 2020, because of the ADPF (Arguição de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental 365) of the Favelas, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which restricted these operations. They grew in 2021 (to 11) and rose even more last year.

According to the survey, police operations left 27 dead in the favelas in 2022, 145% more than in the previous year. The actions of illegal armed groups resulted in 12 deaths last year.

The study also found 259 occurrences of violations of rights committed by police officers in Complexo da Maré, such as home invasion, damage to property, theft, sexual harassment, threat, false imprisonment and torture. In addition, shootings involving police and conflicts between rival criminal groups left children out of school for 15 days a year.

The NGO Redes da Maré analyzed 27 police operations that took place in 2022, of which 19 were by the Military Police, two by the Civil Police and six were joint actions between the two forces.

Through its press office, the Secretary of State for the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro of January informed that its actions “are preceded by prior planning, being triggered within technical protocols and the provisions of current legislation”.

He also stressed that he does not tolerate abuses by his agents and that he “strictly” investigates illegalities. “The corporate Internal Affairs Department is available to citizens to formalize these complaints over the telephone. (21) 2725-9098 or even by email [email protected]. Anonymity is guaranteed.”

A Brazil Agency also contacted the State Civil Police Secretariat, which informed that the position would be given by the state government.

The press office of the Rio de Janeiro government, however, did not respond to questions in the report.