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Rio's favela massacre

Sam Cowie / jlwAugust 31, 2013

It was a massacre that shocked the world and sparked widespread condemnation. Twenty years on, Brazil is pondering the difficult relationship between favela-dwellers and the country's police force.

https://p.dw.com/p/19ZDI

On the night of August 29, 1993, in Rio de Janeiro's Vigario Gera favela, 21 innocent residents were murdered within half an hour. The death toll included a 15-year-old girl.

Their killers - Brazil's military police force - reportedly acted in retaliation for the killings of four officers by drug traffickers at the favela the day before.

Accused of participating in the massacre were 52 officers - yet only three have served time in prison.

Violence continues in Brazil's favelas to this day.

The 20-year anniversary of this brutal massacre has prompted reflection on the difficult relationship between favela-dwellers and the country's police force.