Typically Rio’s favelas fall under the control of one of three main drug-gang factions, the CV (Comando Vermelho), the TC (Terceiro Comando), and the ADA (Amigos dos Amigos). As of late 2006 Rocinha is controlled and managed by the ADA.
The term favela means shantytown. But favelas like Rocinha have progressed from shantytowns to urbanized slums, with many houses having basic sanitation, plumbing and electricity. Normal businesses like banks (the two branches have never been robbed), drug stores, bus lines, cable television, Internet cafes operate. While main streets are easy enough to navigate the internal labyrinth of the favela makes it impossible to deliver mail; post offices are thus located along main streets.
The gangs normally maintain a very high level of control over social behavior, strictly prohibiting street crimes such as rape, muggings, and break-ins within the favela. Since the city of Rio has just begun to recognize the existence of favelas, Rocinha being the first to gain distinction as a neighborhood, up to the present it has been self-supportive. The gangs provide support for things like day care, medicine for the sick, money for the poor, build schools and asphalt roads. This year is the first the city of Rio plans to invest tax money to help Rocinha.
The downside to the gangs is, of course, rival warfare between gangs and with the police. To get a perspective of the brutal violence in and around some of these favelas look at Portuguese website Rio Body Count for an up-to-date number of the city's murders.
My tour of the Rocinha and Vila Canoas (pop 2500) favelas cost about $33US. While 75% of the proceeds go to support of a school (last picture) a small percentage does go to the gangs for leaving the tours and tourists alone.
Resembling the movie Cidad de Deus did I see any kids with machine guns? Yes, I did. One youth, perhaps age 15 or 16, was standing in a market square with a spanky, shiny machine gun. The guide quickly reminded us "No pictures of this, please." I've never seen a gun like it; it looked like it was made of pure silver.
Gangs employ youths under 18 years to undermine the law. With so many youths getting away with crimes up to and including murder Brazil is currently debating to reduce the minimum age of adult court to 16 years.
Rocinha is the largest favela, or slum, in Rio and Brazil with a population topping 60,000 individuals. The movie-famous Cidade de Deus, or City of God, is a smaller favela to the south. Jacarezinho is Rio's second largest favela in north Rio also touching 60,000 people. I have seen estimates from 500 to as high as 850 favelas scattered throughout Rio, many of the nastiest ones in the north.
