MP investigará exploração de menores: The O Dia tabloid of Rio de Janeiro, with its “militia dossier” feature, is emerging as the champ in aggressive coverage of the lucrative paramilitary criminal enterprises run by Rio cops and firemen. In terms of volume, at least.
Not dissimilar to the cops-are-criminals underworld of Saint Petersburg in the late 1990s (when Putin ran the Russian equivalent of the bingo rackets there) or the Colombian AUC, in some ways, these groups. A comparative study would be interesting.
Some months ago, an undercover reporting team from the newspaper was captured and tortured by militia members in the Batan community, an incident credited with leading to the installation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry (CPI) in the Rio state legislature on the problem. The proposed CPI had languished for something like 18 months until the high-profile incident.
And speaking of high-profile incidents: This is the first follow-up coverage I have seen on a disturbing story last year according to which a militia operated child prostitution rings in an upscale neighborhood of the Cidade Maravilha. See
That cops might be deeply involved in running the prostitution rackets in Rio does not come as a great shock. Just ask these vacationing San Francisco police officers who thought they might spend a pleasant evening at the infamous Help! nightclub on Copacabana Beach:
Rio – O secretário municipal de Assistência Social, Marcelo Garcia, vai pedir à polícia e ao Ministério Público (MP) que investiguem a participação de milicianos na exploração sexual de menores — meninos inclusive — na região de Jacarepaguá, Zona Oeste. Na próxima semana, o secretário enviará ao MP um mapeamento dos atendimentos feitos nos centros sociais, que mostra que houve um aumento de 76% no número de casos de crianças e adolescentes explorados sexualmente ou vítimas de abuso sexual.
City social services secretary Marcelo Garcia will ask police and prosecutors to investigate the involvement of militiamen in the sexual exploration of minors — including young boys — in Jacarepaguá, Zona Oeste. Next week, the secretary will send prosecutors a map of cases handled at social services centers whch indicates that cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of minors have increased 76%.
Increased in what period?
De acordo com o secretário, há relatos de milicianos envolvidos nesse crime, principalmente em Gardênia Azul e Largo do Tanque. Marcelo Garcia diz que eles agenciam meninas, e também garotos, quando solicitado pelos clientes. Em 2007, os sete centros registraram 258 atendimentos. Este ano, até agora, já são 454 casos, 196 atendimentos a mais.
According to the secretary, there are reports of militiamen involved in this crime, especially in Gardênia Azul and Largo do Tanque. Garcia says they pimp young girls, and young boys as well when clients request it. In 2007, the seven social centers recorded 258 cases. So far this year, there have been 454 cases, 196 more.
“O negócio deles é ganhar dinheiro. Pelos relatos que chegam aos nossos funcionários, tanto nas ruas quanto nos centros, os milicianos oferecem as ‘novinhas’, mas agora também meninos para satisfazer a vontade de clientes. É um fenômeno novo. Ainda estamos identificando a mecânica, mas sabemos que os programas custam até R$ 15 e que as crianças e os adolescentes explorados são bem pobres”, disse Garcia.
“Their deal is making money. Judging from the reports that have reached our employees, both in the streets and in the social services centers, militiamen offer ‘the young ones’ (underage girls), but now also offer boys to satisfy their clients. This is a new phenomenon. We are still investigating how it works, but we know that that ‘programs’ cost up to R$15 and that the minors who are exploited are poor,” said Garcia.
R$15 = US$9. On the streets of Rio, life is cheap, apparently, if that really is the case. I tend to doubt it. Your self-respecting, rent-seeking, heavily armed sociopath would tend to maximize the value of the novelty merchandise, you would tend to surmise.
Segundo o levantamento, 69% dos menores atendidos são meninas e 31%, meninos. Em relação à faixa etária, 57% das vítimas de abuso ou exploração sexual são crianças de 7 a 14 anos, 9% têm entre 15 e 18 anos, e 34%, até 6 anos. Segundo Marcelo Garcia, o documento também identifica exploração sexual no Ceasa, em Irajá, e no trecho inicial da rodovia Presidente Dutra. Nessas regiões, os principais ‘clientes’ são caminhoneiros.
According to city statistics, 69% of minors reporting abuse are girls and 31% boys. With respect to age, 57% of victims of sexual abuse or exploitation are from 7 to 14, 9% are between 15 and 18, and 35% are younger than 6. Garcia says the document also identifies sexual exploitation in Ceasa, in Irajá, and along the initial stretch of the Dutra interstate highway. In these areas, the customers are mainly truck drivers.
“Quem vende essas crianças comete o mesmo crime de quem compra. Temos que combater essa exploração. Até o fim do ano, queremos inaugurar mais três centros. O último foi instalado em Campinho, na divisa com Jacarepaguá. Os milicianos oferecem gás, oferecem vans, mas não podem oferecer crianças, como se fossem um serviço”, disse.
“The people who sell these children are committing the same crime as those who buy them. We have to combat this exploitation. By the end of the year, we plan to inaugurate 3 more centers. The last was installed in Campinho, on the border of the Jacarepaguá region. The militiamen offer propane, van service, but they cannot offer children, as if this were just another service,” he said.
Mayor Maia’s social services director thinks it’s all right if militias run other black-market businesses?
Em reunião exraordinária realizada ontem, a CPI das Milícias na Assembléia Legislativa decidiu convocar para depor na próxima terça-feira, dia 9, o vereador Josinaldo Francisco da Cruz, o Nadinho (DEM), e o candidato Cristiano Girão (PMN), suspeitos de envolvimento com grupos paramilitares de Rio das Pedras e Gardênia Azul, em Jacarépaguá.
In an extraordinary session held yesterday, the CPI of Militias voted to summon city council member Josinaldo Francisco “Nadinho” a Cruz (DEM-PFL) and candidate Cristiano Girão (PMN), who are suspected of involvement with paramilitary groups in Rio das Pedras and Gardênia Azul, in Jacarepaguá, to give testimony.
Yes, but is it testimony about pimping children?
A comissão também decidiu que vai ouvir ainda este mês outros investigados citados pelo delegado da 32ª DP (Taquara): o vereador Luiz André Deco (PR); o candidato Luiz Monteiro Doen (PTC); e Marco Aurélio França Moreira, o Marcão, que foi candidato e perdeu a disputa para deputado federal em 2006 pelo PSC.
The CPI also resolved to hear three other suspects cited by the precinct commander of the 32nd DP (Taquara): City councilmember Luiz André Deco (PR); candidate Luiz Monteiro Doen(PTC); and Marco Aurélio França Moreiro, aka “Big Marco,” a losing candidate for a federal congressional seat in 2006 for the PSC.
Militia suspects, or child-pimping suspects?
Até agora, a CPI só tinha ouvido depoimentos de autoridades ligadas à Polícia Civil e ao Ministério Público estadual. Um relatório parcial deverá ser entregue ainda este mês pelo deputado Gilberto Palmares (PT) para que a comissão da Alerj consiga ser prolongada por mais 60 dias.
To date, the CPI has only heard from officials from teh police and prosecutor’s office. A partial report is due this month from Gilberto Palmares (PT), as required in order to prolong the CPI for another 60 days.
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