Brazil: Potential witness to councilwoman’s murder killed /update 1

Event

Carlos Pereira, a community activist, was assassinated in the Zona Oeste area of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, April 8. Pereira was killed after reportedly being named as a potential witness to the murder of Marielle Franco, a prominent councilwoman, and her driver on March 14. Franco’s murder prompted major anti-violence and anti-government protests throughout the country. As of April 11, police officials have not confirmed if the two shootings are linked. Regardless, Pereira’s murder could also lead to protests, particularly if it is believed government actors were involved.

Context

Franco, a well-known human rights activist, was a member of the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party. She was elected to the city council in 2016 and was an outspoken critic of rising violence in Rio and the deployment of military forces to the state. Police officials believe that Franco was specifically targeted and an investigation into the assassination is ongoing.

Rio de Janeiro has been suffering from rising violence since 2016. Almost 500 shootings occurred in January 2018 alone in the city. This phenomenon is largely attributed to fighting between heavily armed security forces and criminal gangs in Rio's favelas (shantytowns). On February 20, the Brazilian Senate approved a presidential decree granting the Brazilian Armed Forces special powers and control over law enforcement in the state of Rio.

Advice

Individuals in Brazil are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all protests due to the risk of violence. More generally, avoid all favelas due to chronically high rates of violent crime and adhere to any instructions issued by security forces.