{"id":33224,"date":"2016-09-30T08:00:17","date_gmt":"2016-09-30T11:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=33224"},"modified":"2016-10-04T06:29:37","modified_gmt":"2016-10-04T09:29:37","slug":"cable-car-suspension-and-violent-police-operations-leave-residents-stranded-and-threatened-in-complexo-do-alemao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=33224","title":{"rendered":"Cable Car Suspension and Violent Police Operations Leave Residents Stranded–and Threatened–in Complexo do Alem\u00e3o"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The six month-long suspension<\/a> of Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a>\u2019s cable car was announced on September 14, in between unrelenting police operations in the North Zone<\/a> favela complex. The cable car<\/a> will not run again until 2017, which Rio de Janeiro\u2019s state transport secretary says<\/a> is due to an \u201catypical wearing down of traction cables,\u201d discovered during a routine inspection. According to the secretariat, it will take six months to manufacture, deliver and install the new parts required.<\/p>\n

Residents in Alem\u00e3o were quick to voice their disappointment over social media. Local artist\u00a0Mariluce Souza said<\/a>, \u201cDoes anyone know why they\u2019ve taken away all of the cable car gondolas? Serious lack of respect for residents!\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook users commented on a link posted<\/a> by community news site Voz da Comunidade<\/em><\/a>\u00a0detailing the suspension. Anna Carollyna Santos raised concerns over faulty cabin doors, \u201cstrange noises,\u201d doors\u00a0opening\u00a0and cabins that \u201cswung more than normal, as is if they were about to fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other commenters used the occasion to dispute the cable car\u2019s usefulness to residents. Jeferson Oliveira Don called the cable car \u201cfinancially unsustainable,\u201d while Luiz Pinheiro said it benefitted \u201cless than 10% of residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Complexo<\/a><\/p>\n

This announcement came after several days of Military Police<\/a> operations in Alem\u00e3o aimed at arresting drug traffickers hiding in the area. On the morning of September 9, local media collective\u00a0Coletivo Papo Reto reported<\/a> that residents awoke to bullet holes in their cars and homes because of a shootout occurring during the night. There were further reports of intense shooting<\/a> between midnight and 2am in Alvorada and Nova Bras\u00edlia<\/a> on September 11.<\/p>\n

Directly following the cable car\u2019s suspension, police\u00a0operations in the area resumed and intensified. On the morning of September 15, Military Police began an operation<\/a> that led to three days\u00a0of continuous\u00a0shooting, with residents unable to leave their homes.<\/p>\n

Residents reported hearing long bursts of gunfire, explosions<\/a> and helicopters<\/a>, and videos<\/a> and pictures<\/a>\u00a0on social media show police officers\u00a0entering residents\u2019 homes and using them as locations from which to shoot.\u00a0Updates were posted to social media by Voz da Comunidade<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and Coletivo Papo Reto<\/a>, as well as community journalists and activists including Raull Santiago<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Isso porque t\u00e1 pacificado…#GuerraNoAlem\u00e3o<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DT723BvirY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Thiago Tomazine (@Tomazine420) September 16, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n