President Lula (PT) is expected to decree a Law-and-Order Guarantee (GLO) operation for the city of Rio de Janeiro during the G20 summit in November. According to Rio’s State Secretary of Public Security, Victor Cesar Santos, this measure is normal for major events and with the GLO, the federal government should be in charge of the work. The G20 is a bloc that brings together heads of state from the richest nations in the world and will be held on the 18th and 19th at the Museum of Modern Art in the southern part of the city.
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GLO
The GLO is already a rule for these major events because the country that hosts the event is responsible for ensuring security. The GLO is carried out by the military (Army, Navy, and Air Force) based on an order signed by the President of the Republic.
Meeting
The statement was made after a meeting between security authorities from the state of Rio and the Federal Government to plan integrated actions regarding public security issues in Rio. Among the topics discussed was the activities of the Israel Complex. It was agreed to create a working group.
Israel Complex
On 24 October, a drug trafficking operation in that region called the security policy into question. An operation that had the personnel of an area battalion and support from regional units was unable to achieve its objective – the state had to retreat after criminals decided to shoot at the population, killing three people.
Spending More
On Thursday (31/10), the governor of Rio, Cláudio Castro, met with President Lula. He asked that Rio be allowed to spend more on Public Security, despite the Fiscal Responsibility Law.
National Force
A year ago, at the request of the state government, the federal government sent men from the National Force to Rio. They remain in the city. There are currently around 70 men patrolling the main entrances to the city. The request came after three doctors were killed on the Barra coast. A drug trafficker mistook one of the victims for a rival militiaman.
Rifles
Another point being discussed is why there are so many rifles in Rio. According to Secretary Victor César, there are too many rifles for, so few square meters and they are a symbol of territorial dominance. Furthermore, 47% of the more than 500 rifles seized this year in Rio are of American origin. In an attempt to prevent the weapons from reaching criminals in Rio, the Security Department wants to ask for help from the United States government. The Secretary states that criminal organizations, with branches in 22 Brazilian states, take over territories by buying weapons of war.
Analysis:
The expectation that President Lula will order a Law-and-Order Guarantee (LGO) operation during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro highlights the growing concern about public safety during large-scale events. Historically, LGO has been used to ensure security in situations that attract international attention, but its implementation in a context such as Rio de Janeiro raises questions about the effectiveness of military operations in densely populated urban areas affected by organized crime.
The meeting between security authorities from the state of Rio and the federal government, which resulted in the formation of a working group to address security issues, is a positive step, but insufficient given the complexity of the problem. Violence in Rio is not just a matter of repression but reflects a web of social, economic, and political factors that must be considered.
Sources: A Folha de SP; G1; O Globo [1], [2].
