Members ihpguy Posted November 11, 2011 Members Posted November 11, 2011 Just got this e-mail while I was at the demonstrations in Centro. Fun times! Last week the invasion of Mangueira by the BOPE and follow-on control by the UPP seemed to go well without too much noise. I went by the favela on Monday when I went to get my dog food. No traffic controls. No armed police. Just lots of construction on the Maracana. of course, they are behind the deadline imposed by FIFA. We can only hope it will not be more of what is happening in Complexo Do Alemao. EMERGENCY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS-PACIFICATION OPERATIONS IN ROCINHA AND VIDIGAL FAVELAS U.S. Consulate, Rio de Janeiro-November 10, 2011 According to media reports and other open sources, Brazilian police and military authorities are preparing to enter and assume control of the Rocinha and Vidigal Favelas in the Zona Sul of Rio de Janeiro. Those operations are expected to take place during the weekend of November 12-13, 2011. U.S. citizens and their dependants are strongly advised to avoid all areas in and around Rocinha and Vidigal, including but not limited to travel on the Estrada de Gavea in the vicinity of Rocinha, and Avenida Niemeyer in the vicinity of Vidigal, until further notice. Persons travelling on Estrada de Gavea and Avenida Niemeyer face the risk of delays and road closures due to the movement of police and military vehicles in and out of the affected favelas. American citizens should remain alert to possible violence occurring in reaction to the police operations. The Regional Security Officer of the Consulate in Rio continues to advise U.S. citizens not to enter any of the city's unpacified favelas. U.S Government personnel are prohibited by the policy of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia from entering any unpacified favela without the Consent of the Regional Security Officer. U.S. citizens who travel to or reside in Brazil are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program <https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/> (STEP) in order to receive the most up-to-date security information. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Consulate General in Rio is located at Avenida Presidente Wilson, 147 and can be reached at phone number 21-3823-2000, emergency after-hours phone number 21-3823-2029, American Citizen Services fax number 21-3823-2093, and e-mail acsrio@state.gov <mailto:acsrio@state.gov> . Travelers may also consult the website of the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro <http://riodejaneiro.usconsulate.gov/> for more information. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Brazil <http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1072.html> which is located on the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs website <http://www.travel.state.gov/> . Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website <http://travel.state.gov/> which contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts. Follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/#!/travelgov> and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/travelgov> , and download our Smart Traveler iPhone App <http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-traveler/id442693988?mt=8> to have travel information at your fingertips. Quote
