Retired General Accused of Torture Takes Over in Rio

With its much-publicized crime-fighting effort in tatters and gun battles raging daily between rival drug lords in one of its historic neighborhoods, this city Thursday turned over its police forces to a retired general who killed government foes and allegedly tortured political prisoners during Brazil’s military dictatorship.

Gen. Nilton Cerqueira, who in the 1960s and ‘70s headed one of the country’s notorious secret police operations, was put in charge of 10,000 army troops and 5,000 regular police officers here in hopes that he can stem rising crime in this country’s most famous city.

Under “Operation Rio II,” part of the Brazilian army moved into the city in March to aid Rio’s understaffed, ill-equipped and corrupt police forces, which have waged a losing battle against crime, costing the city business and tourism.

Cerqueira, who also serves as a congressman, was brought in to replace the commander fired early this week when Operation Rio II was roundly criticized as a failure.

Crime has not dissipated, despite the army’s presence. Two weeks of drug wars have left 14 dead in Santa Teresa, a neighborhood made up mostly of artists, foreigners and old money.

Cerqueira headed a division of Brazil’s secret police in the northeastern state of Bahia in the late 1960s; during this nation’s period of military rule, from 1964 to 1985, he became infamous for capturing and killing one of the most heralded anti-government guerrillas. Torture Never Again, an organization of former political prisoners, says it has members who were tortured by Cerqueira.

Gov. Marcello Alencar, whose office is responsible for police in Rio, said he is unconcerned with Cerqueira’s background.

“Now is not the time to choose a buddy or a friend to direct security,” said Alencar, who during the military regime was a lawyer for political prisoners Cerqueira allegedly repressed.

Human rights groups were quick to denounce Cerqueira’s appointment. “The government shouldn’t pander to a perceived desire for law and order by appointing hard-liners who have a record of disrespect for human rights,” said James Cavallaro, director of Human Rights Watch/Americas for Brazil.

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Meanwhile, many of the city’s politicians also expressed uneasiness with the general.

City Councilman Chico Alencar scoffed at Cerqueira, calling him a 65-year-old version of the Sylvester Stallone movie tough-guy “Rambo.”

“That’s what we have now, Rambo, just more violence on top of violence,” he said.

Cerqueira denied accusations that he had tortured anyone. He said his critics could pick at his past but that most Rio residents soon will approve of his anti-crime fighting tactics, “especially the [poor in the slums] who suffer the most, those who pay the heavy price for violence by those who consider themselves above the law.”