AGATHA and MOISE
The murder of Moïse Kabamgabe tied up and killed in a kiosk in Barra da Tijuca, after collecting back wages, is nothing new for those who know the Brazilian reality, especially the “unwritten laws” of certain urban and rural Brazilian areas. The case would go unnoticed, like one of many others of explicit barbarism in Brazilian daily life, but as it was a Congolese immigrant, it could have international repercussions. I hope that justice is done, even though I know that the area I worked in was dominated by militias.
The problem is with the Brazilians themselves, who seem numb with their untold story, the story of interpersonal relationships based on threat, oppression and violence. Does anyone remember the girl Agatha Vitória Sales Félix, shot in the back in a confrontation area in Favela do Alemão, Rio de Janeiro in 2019? The shot, given by the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, generated commotion within a framework where clashes claim the lives of adults and children, often by “stray bullets”.
Years ago I heard from an economically successful couple here in Florianópolis, “I can’t stand hearing about Agatha, Agatha, it’s just what is said on television”. The shocking phrase for insensitivity should not have our simple repulsion, but an attempt to understand — and to understand is not to agree with — the origin of this typical insensitivity that escapes the foreigner who sees Brazil as a “hospitable country”. Yes, it is hospitable, most tourists like our country, but this is one facet, there is much more to know about the true “Brazilian soul” and not all angles are as beautiful as advertised.
Decades ago, during the Bosnian War, in the 90’s, when I was still reading newspapers made of paper, I was surprised that the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, in the middle of the conflict, organized a Miss Contest. When reading the article, some of the people interviewed said “our life cannot stop”. Hence, when I read about Brazil, the country with the highest absolute murder rate on the planet (16th in proportional terms), I realize that we are also in the same situation as Bosnians, even worse today.
The situation of public security in Brazil is one of those topics that no one says ignores its importance, that everyone says is fundamental, but that in practice, no effective, coordinated action is seen, except by the state governments. Control of the police belongs to the states, members of the federation, but there is no national plan. And many of those who voted for the current government voted thinking that would happen. By the way, just for the record, the Brazilian homicide rate had been falling, but it has increased by 4% in the last two years. And when we talk about a fall, this is mainly due to the governments of the state of São Paulo.
Could something be done? Could. But then, the competence of the federated entities in this aspect needs to be reformed, with intelligence action as obtained by the government of the state of São Paulo. Even before that, it needs to be a political asset, something our legislators fight for and without popular demand for it, nothing will happen. The detail is that demand will only exist when sensitivity to the issue overcomes the prevailing indifference. By the way, have you shared any news about the atrocious murder of Moïse Kabamgabe today?
Anselmo Heidrich
1 feb. 22
