The article cites the mega-operation conducted in Rio to demonstrate how the center and the left are failing in the fight against crime
The center and left political camps in the Americas are passively waiting for organized crime to disappear, while the right has the position to fight the problem with maximum lethality to gain political advantage, underlines the Financial times this Sunday, 2, in an article signed by Will Freeman, researcher on Latin American issues in Council on Foreign Relations. The author cites the mega operation carried out last week in Rio de Janeiro to show how the center and the left are failing in the fight against crime.
“While right-wing tactics – Donald Trump’s boat attacks, the new US terrorist designations, or the Rio de Janeiro killings – do little to weaken criminal groups, they function as theater,” Freeman writes.
The researcher assesses that Latin America has a history of “punitive populism,” with lethal law enforcement tactics designed more to mobilize the public than to effectively crack down on crime. Trump’s actions in the region have influenced right-wing leaders. An example is the initiative of the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, who calls for direct military intervention by the United States.
In the Brazilian case, Freeman believes that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) was in a less advantageous situation than a few days before the police action in Rio. “Lula took a long time to prioritize safety and refused to portray gangs as the predatory organizations that they are.”
According to the expert, centrists and leftists across the region must not only criticize the lethality and lawlessness of the government, but also propose laws, police tactics and strategies to dismantle criminal gangs.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
