Parliamentarians hold STF responsible for the death of an MMA fighter in RJ

MMA fighter and martial arts instructor Diego Braga Nunes, 44, was found dead on Monday night (15) in the Morro do Banco favela, located in the west zone of Rio. After having his motorcycle stolen on Sunday ( 14), the fighter decided to go to the community where he was known by some for doing social work linked to martial arts to try to get the motorcycle back.

After searching the region, the athlete’s body was located by police officers from the 31st BPM (Barra da Tijuca) and the Special Operations Battalion (Bope). The case will be investigated by the Civil Police Homicide Unit. Initial information suggests that drug traffickers from Comando Vermelho were responsible for the murder.

On Tuesday morning (16), the Military Police arrested a criminal who confessed to participating in the death. He had police records and was found in possession of drugs. The PM carries out an operation on Tuesday to arrest the other criminals involved in the murder.

For delegate Fabrício Oliveira, coordinator of the Special Resources Coordination of the Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CORE/PCERJ), the case represents yet another “announced tragedy”. For the police officer, the various limitations that ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) imposed on police operations in Rio de Janeiro within the scope of ABPF 645 – called “ADPF das Favelas” – are directly linked to the strengthening of the factions’ dominance in the state.

“It is impossible to talk about this tragedy and violence in Rio de Janeiro without remembering that regular police operations in Rio’s favelas have been banned for more than 3 years. Only in absolutely exceptional cases can they be carried out. Operations stopped being preventive and became reactive, post-tragedy”, said the delegate in a post on social media.

“The use of aircraft was also restricted, among other restrictive measures applied to the Police in ADPF 635. The Police have their hands and feet tied, while criminals feel increasingly free to commit atrocities”, he continued.

Congressmen also took a stance on the case, lamenting the death of Diego Braga and holding the STF responsible for the established measures. “With their hands tied, the police do not work preventively, but only after tragedies like this”, declared federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP).

“The death of fighter Diego Braga was a tragedy announced. Since the Supreme Court banned the police from entering favelas, through ADPF 635, millions of Brazilians have lost their right to public security”, said deputy Coronel Meira (PL-PE).

Parliamentarians also took the opportunity to defend the bill being processed in Congress that ends temporary releases from prison during festive seasons. The suspension of the benefit of the so-called “saidinhas” came to the fore again with the occurrence of a series of violent crimes by prisoners who enjoyed the benefit of temporary departure from Natal, which includes the case of the Minas Gerais PM sergeant killed by a released inmate from prison to spend the end of year festivities with his family. The criminal had 18 police records and still had access to the benefit.

“Unfortunately, due to court orders, the police are prevented from entering communities and carrying out their work in a preventive manner. We will continue the fight so that at least the release of criminals from prisons ends! We can no longer admit that people with an extensive criminal record are on the streets”, declared deputy Helio Lopes (PL-RJ).

Impacts of STF restrictions on police operations in Rio de Janeiro

After almost four years of restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court on the operations of security forces in Rio de Janeiro, the state lives with uncertainty about when (and if) activities will normalize.

Meanwhile, as shown by People’s Gazette, drug trafficking leaders have dedicated themselves to strengthening and expanding their positions, mainly through the installation of hundreds of barricades to prevent the advance of vehicles; increase their war arsenals and even receive drug traffickers from other states who now perceive the hills of Rio de Janeiro as safe places to remain unpunished while they command crime in their states of origin. Intelligence from the state police pointed out that even the frequency of tactical training for drug traffickers has increased with the obstruction of police entry into the favelas.

The action deemed valid by the STF was filed in 2019 by the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), led by Flávio Dino, Lula’s minister who will soon occupy a seat in the Supreme Court.