Army will Remain in Alemão and Penha until June 2012, says Government

Pres. Dilma Rousseff and Gov. Cabral pose with Army Pacification Forces during the inauguration of the new gondola lift system in Complexo do Alemão on July 7, 2011

English translation of article “Exército continua no Alemão e na Penha até junho de 2012, diz governo.” From O Globo (G1), published August 30, 2011.

Army will Remain in Alemão and Penha until June 2012, says Government

The government says the decision was a request to the Minister of Defense. The state plans to install eight UPPs in the area’s favelas.

The government of Rio de Janeiro reported, this Tuesday, August 30^th, that Army troops will remain in the favela complexes of Alemão and Penha in the North Zone of Rio, until June 2012. The communities were occupied in late November 2010. The government says the measure was a request from governor Sergio Cabral to the the new national Defense Minister, Celso Amorim, who decided on Monday, August 29^th, to extend the Army’s presence from October of this year until June of next year.

Army troops patrol the streets of Complexo do Alemão

With the federal government’s help, the extension will offer the state more time to plan the deployment of eight Police Pacification Units (UPP) in the two favela complexes, four in each community.

The government also reported that on Tuesday the 30^th, Security Secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame requested that Cabral contact the minister, based on the federal government’s willingness to continue cooperating with the state security policy. In the penultimate exchange of units in May [the peacekeeping contingents operate on a three-month rotational basis], Army commander General Enzo Peri, admitted the possibility of an extension of the troops’ presence, should the state government request it.